Holiday in Otranto

What makes Otranto special as a destination?

Otranto is the easternmost point of Italy and a sparkling jewel on the coast of Apulia, where the Adriatic meets the Ionian Sea. The small town on the Salento peninsula impresses with a powerful Aragonese fortress, a historic center made of white tuff stone, and one of the most fascinating mosaic floors in Christendom in its Romanesque cathedral. For centuries, Otranto was the gateway between East and West – Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Norman, and Aragonese influences have left a unique cultural layering here. The Cathedral of Otranto is worth the trip on its own: Its 12th-century mosaic floor, created by the monk Pantaleone, extends across the entire nave and depicts a fantastic tree of life with scenes from the Bible, mythology, and medieval daily life – a picture book in stone that is unparalleled. In the crypt with its 42 columns rest the bones of the 800 martyrs of Otranto, who lost their lives during the Ottoman siege in 1480. The coast around Otranto is among the most spectacular in all of Italy. The Baia dei Turchi north of the town offers Caribbean-like sandy beaches between white cliffs. South towards Santa Maria di Leuca, the rocky coast begins with dramatic caves, natural sea pools, and the famous Faraglioni di Sant'Andrea – rock formations in the turquoise sea. The Grotta della Poesia, a natural rock bay, is considered one of the most beautiful natural swimming spots in Italy. Otranto is best reached via Brindisi Airport (about 80 minutes) or Bari (about 2.5 hours). For German travelers, the journey by car and ferry is worthwhile: From Munich via the Brenner motorway to Ancona or Bari and from there along the coastal roads to Otranto. The ferry from Ancona to Igoumenitsa (Greece) also stops in Brindisi, making Otranto the perfect stopover on the way to Greece.