Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Via San Pietro; 10am-noon & 3-6pm)
Vivid Byzantine frescoes decorate the interior of this
church, which was being restored at the time of writing. Follow the signs from the castle:
if it's closed, ask for the key at the cathedral.
DRAMATIC COASTLINE
For a scenic road trip, the drive south from Otranto to Castro takes you along a wild and beautiful
coastline. The coast here is rocky and dramatic, with cliffs falling down into the sparkling, azure sea.
When the wind is up you can see why it is largely treeless. Many of the towns here started life as
Greek settlements, although there are few monuments to be seen. Further south, the resort town of
Santa Maria di Leuca is the tip of Italy's stiletto and the dividing line between the Adriatic and Ionian
Seas.
Activities
There are some great beaches north of Otranto, especially
Baia dei Turchi
, with its translu-
cent blue water. South of Otranto a spectacular rocky coastline makes for an impressive
drive down to Castro. To see what goes on underwater,
Scuba Diving Otranto
( 0836 80 27
40;
www.scubadiving.it
;
Via Francesco di Paola 43)
offers day or night dives as well as introduct-
ory courses and diving courses.
Sleeping
Balconcino d'Oriente
( 0836 80 15 29;
www.balconcinodoriente.com
;
Via San Francesco da Paola 71; d €60-120, tr €80-150;
)
This B&B has an African/Middle Eastern theme throughout with colourful bed lin-
ens, African prints, Moroccan lamps and orange colour washes on the walls. The down-
stairs restaurant serves traditional Italian meals (four courses €50).
B&B
$
Palazzo Papaleo
HOTEL
$$
( 0836 80 21 08;
www.hotelpalazzopapaleo.com
;
Via Rondachi 1; r €120-490; )
Located next to the town cathedral, this sumptuous hotel was the first to earn the EU Eco-
label in Puglia. Aside from its ecological convictions, the hotel has magnificent rooms
with original frescoes, exquisitely carved antique furniture and walls washed in soft greys,
