Otranto, the Italian village of the future with both history and culinary traditions

Otranto is an ancient and fascinating town in the province of Lecce, in Apulia. Its ancient history is intertwined with that of the events on the Adriatic coast of Italy since ancient times when it was an important centre for both the Greeks and the Romans. Today it is a beautiful tourist destination on Italy's Adriatic coast for those who want to visit a piece of Italy's history. 

What to see

Otranto is a marvellous village that can be reached through the Alfonsina gate that gives access to the old town. The partly disconnected streets testify to an ancient time in the village that has been frozen in place and is carefully preserved by the inhabitants of Otranto itself.

The town is dominated by the cathedral, also known as the Lady of Otranto: its façade features an important rose window and inside you can admire a mosaic floor divided into three large thematic areas (the tree of life, the mosaic floor and the figures).

Otranto Castle

The Castello d'Otranto - also known as the Castello Aragonese - is one of the town's main attractions. It is best known as the inspiration for the first Gothic novel by Horace Walpole (1764), although it was built by Alfonso d'Aragona at the end of the 15th century. It is an imposing fortress that can be visited in its entirety and still retains its old, somewhat gloomy charm.

Typical dishes and products

Otranto's cuisine is a perfect fusion of seafaring and rural traditions: the results are recipes that while not particularly elaborate, are filled with a genuinely familiar flavour. Among the typical dishes to be found in the town is orecchiette (small ears of pasta), typically dressed with sauce or with a very seasoned and salted ricotta cheese. Alternatively, fish plays a major role: octopus, fish soup and spaghetti with mussels are a must. Octopus is one of the typical ingredients used in the town, often boiled or fried, or sometimed prepared 'alla pignata', i.e. inside a typical terracotta pot.

Given the importance of the culinary tradition, extra virgin olive oil is also a typical product of the village as it is among the best in the Salento region.

How to get to Otranto

Otranto is a village that can be easily reached by various means:

• by car: on the A16 motorway you can exit at Bari Nord, then continue along the motorway to Brindisi, and then exit at Lecce. Finally, via the eastern ring road, you can get directly to Otranto itself.
• by train: the nearest railway station is Lecce, where you can catch the connection to Otranto.
• by plane: the most convenient airport is Brindisi. Once you have landed, you can rent a car or take advantage of the shuttles, buses, or trains available for connections. 

Living in Otranto

If you want to find houses for sale or for rent in Malcesine suitable to your needs, you can find them on Idealista; if instead you prefer to move permanently in this wonderful location you can rely on Rentalia's proposals.

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