About this experience
Join me for a guided tour of the charming town of Otranto, during which we will explore beautiful architectural landmarks of past centuries and immerse ourselves in the relaxing atmosphere of resort life.
Otranto
Otranto is a port town located at the easternmost point of Italy, featuring tiny cafes, seafood restaurants on narrow ancient streets, sandy beaches with dunes around the lakes of Alimini, the Torre Pinta catacombs, the charming bay of Porto Badisco with the prehistoric cave "Grotta dei Cervi", fresh sea urchins in taverns on open verandas, and the opportunity to go diving.
Itinerary
During the tour, we will visit the cathedral with a unique 12th-century mosaic floor and a crypt of 800 martyrs, the imposing Aragonese Castle, and the 9th-century Basilica of St. Peter with valuable frescoes.
You will learn why Vatican cardinals ordered paint for their mantles here, how a snake once saved the town from pirate attacks, and hear the legend of the headless horseman who fought among the liberators of Otranto from the Turks.
I also recommend stopping for lunch at one of the cozy restaurants and trying the local specialty: "cozze" - mussels in various forms: "cozzegratinate" - baked in the oven with breadcrumbs, "pepatadicozze" - sautéed, "pastaconlecozze" - with pasta. And if you make it to the bay of Porto Badisco, be sure to order freshly caught sea urchins - ricci with "auricchio" cheese and locally made focaccia.
