Custom tour packagesOtranto

Otranto is an idyllic out-of-the-way gem on Puglia's Adriatic coast. The skyline is dominated by the Aragonese Castle from the 15th century, and the 11th Duomo, but the city's roots go deep. Originally founded by the Greeks then incorporated into the Roman empire, Otranto became an important port connecting west and east. Rulers came and went, and nowadays Otranto is no longer a bustling port but a sleepy town with just five and a half thousand inhabitants.

One of the highlights of the town is strolling its pedestrian historic center and its fortified city walls, your gaze torn between the whitewashed buildings and turquoise waters of the Adriatic sea. Just outside Otranto is Faro di Punta Palascia, a lighthouse at the easternmost point of Italy. Nearby beaches, Baia dei Turchi and Porto Badisco, are ideal for swimming in the crystal clear waters. Olive groves and vineyards provide a bucolic backdrop for bike rides or hikes in the surrounding countryside. Otranto's proximity to the sea means you're never far from a plate of excellent seafood, or the signature Puglian orechiette (little ear) pasta.