OTRANTO
Otranto is located on the Adriatic coast of Puglia, is the most eastern city in Italy and on the first of January each year they celebrate the first sunrise of the year with dancing and music.
History
Otranto has an important past, linking East and West, but today Otranto is more famous for its paradisiacal beaches and crystal clear sea. The name of the city derives from the word Hydruntum, which meant a small river that crosses the valley of Idro. It is also thought that its name was derived from a hill near the port called Odronto. Be sure to visit the ancient walled city centre that can be reached by crossing the Porta Alfonsina. Over the centuries, its location has always been a double-edged sword, both as an opportunity for maritime connections with the rest of the Mediterranean, but also leaving it open to invasions. The little Byzantine church of San Pietro which houses beautiful frescoes is not to be missed.
Beaches
The beaches surrounding Otranto are lovely, there is Baia dei Turchi, the Alimini lakes, which are salty and freshwater basins surrounded by Mediterranean scrub. There are also more rocky areas such as the beach of Torre dell'Orso along a jagged section of coastline with inlets and two stacks, known as the Two Sisters.