Comune di Otranto - Tourist routes

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Oggi è il 31.07.2010
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Tourist routes

Valle delle Memorie

On the outskirts south of Otranto, in the area known as Minerva, there is Valle delle Memorie (Valley of Memories), so called because of the presence of many historic sites.
In the valley between Monte Lauro and Monte Ferro, where the typical local chicory is grown,
the rock walls show evidence of a pre-existing rock settlement.

Ipogeo di Torre Pinta

Going on, you can spot Masseria di Torre Pinta, which is today a holiday farm. It is one of the most ancient places of the region, situated on a hillock with olive trees. The Hypogeum near the farmhouse consists of a 33-metre-long underground passage, with a low barrel vault, in the shape of a Latin cross. The core of the cross is surmounted by a cylindrical tower. All the walls of the passage show niches dug in the rock. It was certainly used as dovecote, but its origin is still uncertain.
Rock settlements are widespread throughout the whole valley, as the presence of little caves along the rock walls of the area seems to prove. The valley was probably inhabited by a rural community subordinate to the abbey of S. Nicola di Casole. There are different kind of caves. Some of them have a rectangular plan and are open on the front, others bring back the prehistoric caves used by the monks in the Byzantine period and are similar to the Siculian tombs dating from the Bronze age.

In the same area, there is also another more complex cave: the crypt of S. Nicola.

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Valle dell'Idro

The river Hydro has given the name to the area extending from the town centre of Otranto towards the west. The rivulet flows down Monte S. Angelo, which hides a Byzantine cave named after S. Angelo.
The landscape conveys fields under crop and luxuriant vegetation, which makes it ideal for long walks. The fertile soils of the area, which are irrigated thanks to the presence of wells, are planted with fruit trees and different kind of vegetables.

Fenomeni rupestri nella Valle dell'Idro

As in Valle delle Memorie, rock settlements are also present here.
The area is dotted with different kind of caves, which may be gathered into three groups. The first group is at the entrance of the valley, on the left side of it. Some of them consist of two rooms, the larger one at the entrance and the smaller at the back. All the caves convey Greek inscriptions, ledge niches and a cistern.
The caves of the second group are on the hillside of Monte Lauro Vecchio, at different levels. They consist of different rooms – one of them larger compared to the others - one niche and three ledge niches. The walls show graffiti representing Latin crosses, hands, Ottoman warriors and corsairs.

Ingresso grotta Sant'Angelo

The third group, situated on the hillside of Monte S. Angelo, is a real rock settlement consisting of cowsheds, dwellings and places of worship.
Grotta di Sant'Angelo is particularly noteworthy. It is so named because of the image of archangel Michael conveyed in the rectangular vestibule of the cave.
Nearby Masseria S. Barbara, along the north side of the valley, on Monte Piccioniere, the section of a megalithic wall still shows some graffiti reproducing different kind of crafts.
You can go back to Otranto taking Statale 16.

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Otranto, S. Nicola di Casole, Casamassella, Giurdignano-Centoporte

Taking the coast road towards Santa Cesarea Terme, at about 4 Km south of Otranto, before arriving at the air force base, you can see on the right a tree-lined path leading to the ruins of the monastery of S. Nicola di Casole, the well-known Basilian coenoby dating from 1098.

Particolare del Monastero

The site, which is today private property and includes a farmhouse, still keeps the remains of the ancient abbey which began its inexorable decline after the events of 1480.
Remains of columns set into the walls are still kept.
A straight paved road about one km long starts from the farmyard. It was the stretch of the ancient road linking in the past the monastery to the nearby Uggiano la Chiesa.
At the end of it, turning first on the right and then on the left, you can spot Masseria Montelauro, a luxury hotel.
After getting into S.S. 173, which connects Otranto to Uggiano, you can reach Casamassella, the hamlet of Uggiano. In the square of the village, the large baronial house stands. It belonged to the noble family De Marco, feudal lords of Lequile, Vaste, S. Cassiano and Morcone.

After arriving in Giurdignano, you can follow the road signs to the site of Centoporte or Cento Caselle, the remains of a church dating from the 11th – 12th century, situated on a small high ground which can be spotted along the road heading to Otranto.

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The south coast

The coastline south of Otranto is made up of a long stretch of sloping cliffs, which makes it not so easy to drive along.
Starting from the Port of Otranto and going on southward in the area Cave, you can visit the prehistoric Grotta Palombara, named after the presence of colonies of pigeons.

Il faro della Palascia

Continuing, on the right, the Torre del Serpente (Snake Tower) or Torre dell'Idro, also called Cucurizzo, rises as the timeless emblem of the town.
Over it, you can spot Torre dell'Orte, dating from 1500.
You can also reach the Punteddha, at the end of Baia Palombara, where at various times the monk seal was spotted.
Going on, Baia dell'Orte with the small beach Porto Grande, easily accessible from the sea. Some sea caves are particularly noteworthy in the area, such as Grotta della Piscina and Grotta del Pastore or della Pecora.
Finally, you can see the imposing Faro della Palascia (Lighthouse of Palascia), recently restored and situated at the most extreme eastern edge of Italy.
Having doubled the cape and passed the cliffs of Punte Galere, close to the coast there is the small island of Sant'Emiliano, a resting place for the numerous sea-gulls that live in this area. If you raise your eyes, you can admire Torre di S. Emiliano, situated on a hill above the sea.

It was built in the 16th century and, at the origin, a church dedicated to the saint was next to it.

Pitture rupestri all'interno della grotta

Further southwards there is Grotta dei Cervi, that unfortunately can not be visited. Discovered in 1970 by five members of the speleological group “ Pasquale de Lorentiis” of Maglie, the cave hides traces of Neolithic civilization.
The small harbour of Porto Badisco, where probably Aeneas landed, attracts many visitors for its beauty and its clean waters. On the left side of the bay, there is the ancient Cunicolo dei Diavoli and Grotta Galleria, an underground passage. Further on, Grotta di Enea.
Going back towards Otranto along the main road, many examples of local dry-stone constructions can be seen: furneddhi or paiari ( dry-stone huts) and dry-stone walls.
On the left side, almost opposite Torre Sant'Emiliano, the fortified Masseria di Cippano can be noticed. Being considered as one of the most beautiful of Salento, it dates back to the late 16th century and, together with the towers, it was part of the medieval defensive system of Terra d'Otranto. It is endowed with a higher floor and some defensive trap-doors.

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The north coast

This strip of coast boasts stretches of cliffs and also beaches scattered everywhere.
Starting from the Riviera degli Haethei, here it is Fascio, a rock so called for its peculiar cubic shape. Here there is also a small outlying fort.

Insenatura Grotta Monaca

Further on, you can see Faro della Punta, also known as Faro Bianco and over it, you can sunbath lying on the beach of Porto Craulo or on the nearby Castellana beach.
Continuing along the coast, there is the small beach of La Staffa and, after that, the enchanting inlet called Canale del Càfaro.
This part of the coast is characterized by many creeks, bays and caves, like the Cattapignula inlet, “bat” in local dialect, or the not far creek S. Pietro dei Canali. On the left, Masseria Cerra can be noticed, that gives the name to the entire area.
After a few meters, the bay Grotta Monaca opens on the sea.
Continuing along the coast the places called Sapunerò, Mulino d'Acqua and Imperia can be admired.
On the left side of Sapunerò, a 15 metre high cliff, there is Grotta dell'Eremita.

Torre costiera di Santo Stefano

Further northwards the Murrone can be reached, a suggestive cliff which is named after a nearby masseria.
Continuing, the sea tower of Santo Stefano can be reached, situated in the so called Baia di Santo Stefano. The tower was started in 1567 by the master-mason Paduano Baxi from Lecce.
On the left, there is a cave which delimits Rada della Carèula. Going inland a rich landscape of pine-woods and mediterranean maquis can be admired.
Not far, the small bays of Porticeddhi and the beautiful creek of Toraiello.
Then Baia or Fossa dei Turchi can be reached; it is named after the Ottoman landing in the bay in 1480.
Going on the extreme edge of that bay, there is Alimini beach, where the many bathing establishments, very busy in summer time, can be reached.

Lago Alimini Grande

A walk on the sand allows to reach Ponte degli Alimini, where the lakes join the sea.
At Conca Specchiulla, where different kind of summer facilities can be enjoyed, you can admire Grotta della Funtaneddha, Pastiddhuzza bay, San Giorgio beach and Grotta del Macaru.
Continuing northwards, there is Torre Sant' Andrea, a small and very quiet inlet.
What has been described is all the area flanked by the blue Adriatic sea. In the inland, along the main road leading from Sant'Andrea to Otranto, the whole area of Laghi Alimini, the naturalistic heritage of Salento, can be admired. The two basins that can be noticed on the left side are surrounded with thick pine-woods and mediterranean maquis. Lago Alimini Grande has salt waters; behind it, Alimini Piccolo or Fontanelle, which receives spring waters. Then, back towards Otranto.

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