The Cathedral of Otranto

Santa Maria Annunziata Cathedral, an architectural gem that majestically stands in the heart of the city, was founded in 1068 by the Norman bishop Guglielmo and it represents the religious and historical center of Otranto.

This impressive framework, synthesis of several architectural styles ranging from Byzantine to Romanesque, witnessed epochal events that marked the history of the city. During the tragic siege in 1480, the cathedral was scene of an atrocious carnage perpetrated by the Turks, in which Christian defenders who sought refuge there found their death. Nowadays, in the Martyr’s Chapel, rest the remain of the 800 Saint Martyrs of Otranto, indelible symbol of faith and courage.

Inside, charm and beauty reveal themselves in details: the treasured Arbor Vitae floor mosaic, one of the largest in Europe, the suggestive rose window on the main façade, quintessential symbol of the Romanesque style, and the ancient crypt, with its forty-eight spans and over seventy pillars.

The Cathedral of Otranto is more than a place of worship; it’s a living monument of Salento’s history and spirituality, an icon of resistance and hope that continues to inspire and to move visitors from all over the world.