Otranto Sights: The highlights of the easternmost city in Italy

Otranto is located at the very tip of Salento, the peninsula that looks like the heel of Italy’s boot. This makes it the easternmost city in the country. If you look towards the sea here on a fine day, you can even see the coast of Albania, which is only about 70 km away. The easternmost point is the Punta Palascìa lighthouse, just south of the city.

When I read through all the reviews of individual places in the Otranto region, I was initially quite concerned. Theft at the parking lots and some tourists had complained about rip-offs on the beaches. And indeed, you are occasionally forced to pay an entrance fee here at the beaches and natural sites, which are not that easy to reach, or to park in an expensive parking lot, in order to be driven from there to the actual attraction for a certain surcharge.

But all this should not stop you from exploring this really absolutely fascinating section of the Adriatic coast of Italy. There are really great places here that you should definitely see. And if you pay attention to a few things, everything should go without a hitch.

Accommodation in Otranto

There are some hotels directly in Otranto that are a great starting point for exploring both the city and the surrounding coastal region.

Personally, I found it better to stay a little further north of the city, because it was then easier to quickly get to the great coastal towns before everyone else did. Especially if you are traveling by rental car, then I recommend this alternative.

I found the Residence Altair particularly beautiful and also fairly priced. Especially the large garden with a pool and hammocks for chilling was pretty awesome here.

The luxurious Baglioni Masseria Muzza is well known, but not exactly cheap. Masserias are typical southern Italian farms, some of which have been lovingly converted into upscale accommodation with wellness areas and infinity pools. An overnight stay in such a masseria is a highlight in itself, because here you can experience the historical charm of the region without sacrificing luxury and comfort.

1. Cattedrale di Santa Maria Annunziata

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata, built in 1088 on the foundations of an earlier temple, is a must-see. The interior is particularly impressive and makes the cathedral one of the most beautiful cathedrals in all of Puglia.

A special feature here is the golden wooden ceiling in Moorish style, but also the famous floor mosaic. It is one of the largest and best preserved medieval floor mosaics in Europe and was created by the monk Pantaleone from the monastery of San Nicola di Casole in the 12th century AD.

He completed the mosaic in three years, which was a pretty impressive feat considering that it consists of around 10 million individual mosaic tiles. After that, an average of 9,000 stones were laid each day, which corresponds to around 6 to 7 per minute.

The mosaic interweaves around 700 individual “stories”. If you look long enough, you will find references to biblical scenes, Greek legends, zodiac signs and Arabic fables, among other things. The central motif is the “Tree of Life” and the mosaic represents the entire knowledge of people in the Middle Ages.

The chapel with the remains of 800 martyrs of Otranto, who were killed by the Ottomans in 1480, is a little eerie. The cathedral’s basement also contains a remarkable crypt consisting of 42 columns of different shapes, which reminded me a bit of the Mezquita de Córdoba in southern Spain.

Incidentally, admission to the cathedral is free of charge.

2. Corso Garibaldi in the old town

The Borgo di Otranto is the historic center of Otranto and is the busiest area. You should definitely check out the alley Corso Garibaldi, which winds through the old town. Here you will find many souvenir shops, stores, restaurants and cafes.

3. Chiesa di San Pietro

The Church of San Pietro is somewhat hidden in the middle of the old town. You can recognize it by its square floor plan with a Greek cross. It is the only Byzantine cross-domed church in Puglia and offers an insight into the region’s Byzantine past.

4. Torre Alfonsina and the Aragonese Walls

Otranto has some pretty impressive city walls that served as a defense system for the city against attacks from the sea. They were built after the Turkish invasion of 1480.

Along the walls, there are also several towers. The most important one is the Torre Alfonsina, named after Alfonso I of Aragon. The Torre Matta, located in the south of the old town, is also quite impressive. It has only recently been restored and is now open to the public.

5. Castello Aragonese

The Aragonese Castle is a striking fortress characterized by Byzantine, Norman and Aragonese influences. Emperor Frederick II also had a hand in its construction.

Today, the fortress serves as a cultural center with exhibitions and events. For an entrance fee of €12, you can also marvel at the interior of the fortress.

6. Spiaggetta del Molo

Right in the middle of Otranto Bay, the Spiaggetta del Molo is a small city beach where locals also like to meet.

From here, you can also take a stroll along the seafront promenade (Lungomare degli Eroi) to the historic center and watch the locals fishing or sunbathing.

7. Baia dei Turchi

The beach Baia dei Turchi is located about 6 kilometers north of Otranto. It is one of the most popular and picturesque natural beaches in Puglia. The beach offers fine, white sand and a gently sloping seabed.

You cannot reach it directly, but have to drive to one of the paid parking lots and then walk to the beach. Sometimes this can take 30 to 40 minutes. You should be careful here: Some of the parking lot owners try to guide you to their overpriced parking lots and then offer you transportation to the beach – of course only for an extra charge. The “BAIA DEI TURCHI” Parcheggio Schito is rather cheap, only 10 to 15 minutes from the beach, but not open all year round.

8. Faraglioni di Sant’Andrea

This small bay, with its islands rising out of the water and striking rock arch, where you can also jump from the white limestone cliffs into the turquoise blue water and swim, was one of my absolute highlights in Puglia.

The best way to get in and out of the water is from Punta de lu Pepe. However, there are no stairs or ladders and you should be fit enough to climb a little on the rocks.

But even if you don’t want to go swimming, it’s worth visiting just for the view of the rugged coastal landscape. You can also hike a little further along the cliffs and watch the waves crash loudly and powerfully against the cliffs of the steep coast from the many vantage points.

There are several parking lots in the bay. About a 10-minute walk away, there is a fairly large meadow where you can park (Parcheggio di Sant’Andrea). There is a parking machine here, but it is only active in the high season. Outside of the season, you can park here for free. However, the place is not monitored, so I advise you not to leave anything in the car, especially nothing valuable.

There is another parking lot (Parcheggio dei Faraglioni) within walking distance of the bay. This costs €1.50 per hour. Again, you shouldn’t leave anything in the car and it’s best to only book the ticket hourly and then extend it again and again.

9. Cava di Bauxite (Bauxite mine)

The Cava di Bauxite is a former bauxite quarry south of Otranto, situated on a small freshwater lake that was created by the quarry when groundwater rose to the surface. The place is known for its stunning color combination of emerald green water and rust-red rock walls.

There is a parking lot on the street that you have to use for €3 if you arrive by car to get to the lake.

10. The Alimini Lakes – Laghi Alimini

The Alimini Lakes consist of two lakes: the Alimini Grande (mainly seawater) and the Alimini Piccolo (freshwater), which are connected by a channel called “Lu Strittu”. The lakes are surrounded by pine forests and dense scrub.

11. Spiaggia Libera and Spiaggia Alimini

I found the shallow sandy beaches right next to the lakes (Spiaggia Libera and Spiaggia Alimini) to be among the most beautiful in the area. There is really a lot of space here and also some Lidos (beach bars). There are also many parking lots right next to the road, but they are chargeable.

12. Grotta della Poesia

The Grotta della Poesia is one of the most shared places in this region on social media and that is probably why it is often quite busy here. And even the fact that this collapsed cave was named by National Geographic as one of the ten most beautiful natural pools in the world does not exactly attract fewer visitors.

Nevertheless, the grotto, which is located about 20 minutes by car north of Otranto, is worth a visit, because the coastal landscape here is simply beautiful.

The cave consists of two parts: the Grotta Grande and the Grotta Piccola, with the Grotta Grande being particularly impressive with its approximately 5-meter-deep, crystal-clear water. Incidentally, swimming is prohibited here, but some tourists do it anyway.

What makes the grotto special is that the place has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Thousands of ancient inscriptions and drawings have been discovered, dating from various civilizations, including Messapic, Greek and Latin writings. An information board on the site will give you many more details about these finds.

The whole area around the grotto is fenced in and you can only enter if you pay an entrance fee of €3. The neighboring parking lot also costs a few euros per hour. To see everything in detail and still have some time to chill, two hours should be plenty.

Things to do and see in Otranto

A good activity if you have a lot of time is hiking. Along the coast, the Cammino del Salento leads over the Via del Mare. The route is 135 km long in total, but it can be covered in several shorter stages. There are two stages around Otranto:

• northern: from Otranto to San Foca
• south: from Otranto to Santa Cesarea Terme

In Otranto itself, a guided tour with locals is also worthwhile. There are a few offers for this:

• Private tour with a certified guide
• 2-hour guided tour on foot

There are also some culinary highlights to discover in Otranto. Because here Italian cuisine is lived and loved and there are also courses run by locals who will share the secrets of their cooking with you.

• Market and private cooking class at a local’s home
• Orecchiette workshop, entirely handmade
• Homemade pasta course with tasting in a unique setting
• dinner in the home of a local

Best time to travel to Otranto

During the high season in summer, many tourists will try to explore the region’s beautiful coastline with you. Parking spaces will then be in short supply and the owners of the facilities will probably try to squeeze as many euros out of their visitors as they can.

In the months that are a little further towards the end or even out of season, such as October, traveling in the region around Otranto is, in my opinion, much more relaxed. Admittedly, not all bars and beach bars are open then, but if you are here mainly for the beauty of nature, I’m sure you can handle it.

---

Otranto in southern Italy is a great place that you should definitely not miss out on during your vacation in Puglia. Which beaches and coasts are still missing from the list here? Feel free to write it in the comments.