Otranto Jazz Festival

Otranto, the doorway to the East, a melting pot of ethnic groups, cultures and ideas. It has always been considered one of  the pearls of the Mediterranean thanks to its timeless charm and numerous historical, artistic and naturalistic treasures. The narrow streets of the historical quarter offer a wealth of surprises to the curious visitor. Its ancient flagstone pavements lead to picturesque  houses representing different architectural styles and eras and to quaint little shops selling local products and handicrafts. Visitors will be delighted by the impressive views of the crystalline sea and untouched landscape.  The Aragonese Castle adds to the magnificent splendor of the surrounding landscape. It is a symbol of the once, great, strategic importance of this town. The cathedral, with its famous mosaic, created by the monk Pantaleone in the XII century, is a key tourist attraction that transports visitors to far gone eras and historically difficult times. At the very centre of the town’s historical quarter lies the church of San Pietro ( Saint Peter), a jewel of Byzantine art.

Otranto offers all this to the visitor and lots more: Sunshine, lakes and breathtakingly untouched coastline. Otranto marks the point where where two seas meet, the Adriatic and the Ionian. The town is steeped in ancient traditions still upheld by its people as testimony of their true identity. Otranto is welcoming and warm hearted.

The town has influenced numerous poets and writers, past and present, who have captured the its  essence and translated it into their works 

 Things  to See

The cathedral was built between 1080 and 1088. It is held up by 42 columns each one different from the rest. The façade is Baroque and dates from 1794. The ceiling is vaulted, in guilded wood, and dates from1698. However the main attraction in the cathedral is the floor: it is a mosaic made up of polychrome tesserae dating from the XII century, depicting  the story of the Western and Eastern cultures.

The Byzantine church of S.pietro ( St. Peter) dates from the IX century. Its Byzantine roots are easily distinguished in its Greek cross plan, central dome, and windows present on the three apses. Inside the church there are some impressive fresco paintings, that were later altered and  contaminated with Latin designs.

The church of Santa Maria dei Martiri ( St.Mary of the Martyrs) is situated at the point where the Eight Hundred martyrs were beheaded in 1480. It is believed that, during the Pre Christian era, there was a pagan temple dedicated to the God Minerva in the very same spot.

Once visited it is impossible to forget this suggestive church. It remains in your memory forever.