Otranto Cathedral
Cattedrale di Santa Maria Annunziata
An 11th-century Norman cathedral with a 12th-century ‘Tree of Life’ mosaic floor covering the whole nave, and a side chapel displaying the remains of 800 martyrs.
Otranto Cathedral was consecrated in 1088. Its most striking feature is the floor mosaic, completed between 1163 and 1165 under the direction of the monk Pantaleone. A giant ‘Tree of Life’ stretches from the entrance to the altar, its branches covered with Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, Alexander the Great, King Arthur, the zodiac signs and all manner of mythical beasts, making it a medieval encyclopedia. In the Chapel of the Martyrs on the right, glass cases hold the skulls of roughly 800 citizens who were executed in 1480. Dress modestly to enter, and do not step within the fenced mosaic area. Entry is free or by small donation.
Opening hours
About 8:30 am–12:30 pm and 3:00–7:00 pm (extended in summer)
Nearby sights
- Aragonese Castle of Otranto
- Otranto
- Bauxite Quarry Lake
- Punta Palascia Lighthouse
- Baia dei Turchi
- Faraglioni di Torre Sant'Andrea
- Torre dell'Orso
- Grotta Zinzulusa