OTRANTO

THE TOWN: On the Adriatic Coast, in the eastern part of Italy, in the heart of Mediterranean, there is Otranto, whose fabric shows the signs and the traces of a millenary history.
In this context it is important to mention:
The so called “ Grotte del Cervo”  (deer caves) as  a testimony of the Neolithic  age; the megaliths and  the ruins of the old inhabitants of  Messapia, Japigia, Salento, and Calabria  which were collectively named after “Terra d’Otranto” (Land of Otranto) in the 4th century; and  the mysterious “Pelasgi” (old inhabitants of Greece) whose name derives from Greek language, from the words “water” and “mountain”.
Moreover, the cathedral  links up  the East and the West parts marking the metaphysical centre. Inside of  it a beautiful mosaic floor and a sumptuous “Arbor Vitae” full of  lay and religious symbols, determine its  incomparable artistic and historic value.
Otranto with its culture, its history and its natural beauties offers to its visitors a wonderful landscape and a seascape which  can not leave them cold.

THE COAST: its characteristic is its variety.
In fact, in this part of the Adriatic coast you can find large white beaches or small inlets characterized by the presence of the Mediterranean maquis, or places where the coast is hight and rocky and where the falaise dives into the sea, as well as bays, islets, stacks and caves.
Northward, there is “Frassanito” with a thick pinewood, and “Alimini”, where, among its downs there are the “Crigni” which are black veins in the sand, printed by charcoal. Alìmini or Alimìni, is a name which probably derives from Greek, it would be equivalent to the Latin “sal stat”, or could derive from “limne” that means “watertight” and this would refer to the presence of two lakes: “Fontanelle” (springs of fresh water) and “Alimini”.
Here there are some of the most striking places of this area:
“Baia dei Turchi” (Turk’s bay) : a series of small mortises that hide beaches which were in the past landing-places.
“Mulino d’Acqua” (Water mill) : a series of small caves, among which there is a bigger one where the vault gave away.
“Grotta Monaca” (Monaca cave): a cave that was characterized in the past by a stalagmite that looked like a nun.
The white lighthouse marks the entrance to the port, while the so called “Bastione dei Pelasgi” marks an insuperable bound.
Behind the port there is an old tower called “Torre del serpe” (snake tower) which overflows a hard coast that degrades toward the so called “Baia delle Orte”.
At “Orte” that derives from the word “Ortos” where the sun rises, there is the so called “ Capo di Otranto” (Otranto cape) with its lighthouse. Behind it there is “ Sant’Emiliano”, an inlet characterized by its limpid water and by the presence of a small islet in the middle.
From here we arrive to “Porto Badisco” , where according to the poet Virgilio, Enea landed.
In this part of Italy, a series of wonderful and striking places with their history and their nature allow the visitors to have a wonderful and unforgettable experience.

Apulia is one of the most hospitable region of Southern Italy. This region extends from “Gargano” as far as “Salento” area, showing its natural and cultural beauties.
There were in the past peoples who wanted to conquer it, others who wanted to find refuge and hospitality, peoples who have docked peacefully and others who decided to settle in this region for its climate and its natural resources.
Among these people there were the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Saracens, the Swabians, the Normans, the French, the Spanish etc.
So, everywhere the signs of the different cultures that have influenced Apulia are visible.
Among the harshnesses of “Gargano” ( the famous promontory where a lot of people go on pilgrimage being devoted to “Padre Pio”) there is the basilica of “San Michele Arcangelo” . Moreover, Apulia offers to its visitors the wonderful and striking view of the so called “Tavoliere delle Puglie” ( a wide plain, the wider of peninsular Italy ), the famous castle of Barletta (which overlooks the Adriatic coast), the Cathedral of Trani where sea and land, religion and adventure blend together, and also the so called “Murge” (an upland of 150 Km ) where there is the famous “Castel del Monte” which calls to mind the historical figure of Federico II.
It is also necessary to include among the cultural beauties of Apulia the cathedrals of Ruvo, Bitonto, Bitetto and Bari which show the influence of the Romanesque style.
In the south-east part of the province of Bari, visitors will meet “Conversano” with its historic centre, its monuments, its cathedral, the abbey of “San Benedetto”, the monastery of “Santa Maria dell’isola”, the baroque church of “San Cosma” and the picture-gallery.
Moreover, there are wonderful landscapes characterized by the presence of natural caves like the “ Grotte di Castellana”, particular kind of building like the “trulli di Alberobello” (drystone houses typical of Apulia), and other interesting places like Locorotondo, Cisternino, Brindisi, Taranto and Lecce where the Baroque style dominates.
As regard food, Apulia is one of the best region of Italy.
Here visitors can try fish and vegetables, fruit in season like grapes and cherries, extra virgin olive oil, typical kind of pasta like “orecchiette”, typical recipes like “orecchiette” with turnip greens, with tomato, or “cavatelli” with pulses, and also cheese, meat, mussels and a great variety of delightful wine.