From the times of the Kingdom of Sicily and up to the 1920s, Salento was called Terra d’Otranto (land of Otranto) and the city was its most important center.

The Walls that protect the historic center were unfortunately ineffective against the siege of the Saracens in 1480, when the Turks massacred 800 Christian men who refused to abjure their faith: now the Holy Martyrs remains are kept in the splendid Cathedral of 1080.

A wonderful mosaic floor, representing a large tree of life, covers all three aisles of the church and is a true masterpiece of mosaic art.

The fortification of the city was then strengthened with the construction of the Castle by the Aragonese.

From the castle square unravels a maze of alleys, narrow streets and artisan shops of the ancient village, recognized by UNESCO as a cultural heritage.

Just outside the Walls, towards the south but far from the coast, there is a small natural paradise not to be missed: an emerald green lake nestled between the coral-colored hills of a bauxite quarry. It is located behind the Baia delle Orte, the wildest of Otranto beaches, overlooking a cobalt blue sea where to dive.
The old quarry, now abandoned, has been transformed by rainwater into a lake (not swimming) with green colors like emerald, surrounded by a red fire land, so creating a scenery with unbelievable bright colors.

Do not miss the Baia dei Turchi on the coast, so called because, according to legend, the Saracens responsible for the massacre of Otranto landed here.

A little further up, near Torre dell’Orso, is the Grotta della Poesia and the Grotta Poesia Piccola (Little Poetry Cave). 

The legend tells that here there was the epic landing of Aeneas, and here there is also the precious "Sistine Chapel of the Neolithic", the Grotta dei Cervi, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe.