Otranto, Puglia

Overview

Discover Otranto: Private Tours, Experiences & Custom Travel

The small town of Otranto has a big history that makes it popular with visitors. In 1480 the town was captured by the Ottomans who beheaded 813 citizens who refused to convert to Islam. But the story doesn't end there. Following the liberation of the town, the bodies were transferred to the city's cathedral where the bones of the 'Martyrs of Otranto' are now on display. In 2013, they were the first saints to be canonized by the newly elected Pope Francis.

The cathedral is also home to a stunning 12th century mosaic of the Tree of Life. The mosaic covers much of the church floor depicting scenes from the Old Testament and of Alexander the Great from the Alexander romance that was popular in Antiquity and throughout the Middle Ages.

Otranto is one of most charming towns and a popular port in the summer. While small, it is a great location to explore the tip of the peninsular and enjoy the coastline in summer.

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Explore Otranto

Our own photographs

Otranto Through Our Eyes

Photographed during our own travels and research, these images follow the journey through Otranto, from the first view of the landscape to the small details that give the place its character.

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Experience Puglia vacations, holidays and biking tours in Puglia with Italy Vacation Specialists

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What to do in Otranto

Puglia

Map

Get your bearings before you go

Multi-Day Holidays Tours

Whole journeys, planned end to end

Puglia Discovery (6 nights/ 7 days ): Mostly All Inclusive Private Tour of Puglia including Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, Ostuni, Lecce, Otranto Bari and incredible wine tastings and olive farms

Our Puglia Discovery Experience is a great option for first time visitors or returning visitors to the Puglia region who want to experience the region with local hosts and visit the region in a relaxing, comfortable way with visits to local farms, wi...

Private

7 Days / 6 Nights

Private & Small Group Tours in Otranto

Days out with people who know the way

Lecce & Otranto Full Day Tour

This full day tour of Lecce, Otranto and Santa Cesarea is great way to experience some of the most beautiful towns in the Salento region. Lecce is known as the 'Florence' of southern Italy and it is best experienced with a local English speaking gui...

Private

Villas

Private homes with stories of their own

Italy,Puglia,Otranto

Villa

Villa Alimini

2 Beds 2 Baths 8

Air Conditioning +13 more

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Photo Gallery

Gargano Coast including Vieste

Alberobello

Bari

Brindisi

Cisternino

Foggia

Gargano Coast including Vieste

Lecce

Locorotondo

Martina Franca

Monopoli

Ostuni

Otranto

Polignano a Mare

Santa Cesarea Terme

Santa Maria di Leuca

Taranto

Torre Canne

Torre dell' Orso

Our Featured Properties

Stays we picked one by one

La Casa sul Mare featured rental property in Otranto

Italy,Puglia,Taranto

Villa

La Casa sul Mare

5 Beds 6 Baths 13

Air Conditioning +13 more

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Italy,Puglia

Villa

Villa Mimma Puglia

2 Beds 5

BBQ +12 more

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Italy,Puglia,Otranto

Villa

Villa Alimini

2 Beds 2 Baths 8

Air Conditioning +13 more

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Italy,Puglia,Polignano a Mare

Villa

Villa Bianca

6 Beds 5 Baths 12

Air Conditioning +11 more

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Casa Deva featured rental property in Otranto

Italy,Puglia,Bari

Villa

Casa Deva

7 Beds 5 Baths 16

Dishwasher +8 more

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Getting here

The Road to Otranto

Most of our guests arrive by private car, with a driver who knows these roads and where it is worth stopping along the way. These are the journeys we arrange most often.

Lecce Puglia Brindisi Puglia, Brindisi Airport Alberobello Puglia Bari Puglia, Bari Airport

Brindisi, Puglia with Italy Vacation Specialists

Bari region of Apulia, Italy Big ferris wheel on the waterfront of Bari

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In their words

Stories That Stay With You

Here's what our guests share about their unforgettable journeys

“In September of 2018 I brought a group of 12 from Venice to Sicily and organized all of my services with the Italy Vacation Specialists. Being a travel agent and in the business, I know how complicated organizing travel arrangements can be in Italy and the IVS…”
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“Jesse & Giuseppe, Sandy and I have been looking through my slides of our trip to Southern Italy. We had such a good time with you and Giuseppe that we wanted to let you know again. You were the best guides ever”
Bob & Sandy Read their story

“My husband and I just took a two week trip to Italy that was planned for us by Eleanor Kinchin-Smith. It was a fantastic trip and we could not have been more thrilled. We worked together with Ele to let her know about our interests and our style of travel. She…”
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“I traveled with JoAnn West through your services, guided by Giuseppe, in July of this year. What a wonderful experience; your service is really top notch! If I return to Italy for a tour, I will absolutely use your services again and recommend you to my friend…”
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“As a travel agent, but also a traveler to Italy, thee is no other company I would recommend than the Italy Vacation Specialists. Not only do they really care about what they are doing, they also really know Italy and try to educate many people about ways they…”
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“I went to high school with the owner of the company who organized my honeymoon for myself and my now wife from Tokyo. We spent three short weeks seeing Piedmont and experiencing wine paradise there, then heading to Nice in France with our private driver and fl…”
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