Grand Prix of Italy

Otranto is a historic seaside town and port on the Adriatic coast of southern Italy, in the region of Puglia, renowned for its picture-perfect blue waters, white buildings and diving rocks.

The town is in the province of Lecce, and is close to the easternmost point of Italy. It is within the area known as the Salento, the tip of the peninsula which is the heel of Italy's boot.

Like much of Puglia, Otranto has a colourful and mixed past. It was important as a Greek and then Roman port, called Hydruntum. Later it was ruled by the Byzantines, the Normans and the Aragonese.
Otranto's leading attraction is the twelfth-century mosaic in the town's Romanesque cathedral, and hidden up winding alleys within the old part of town is a very different church, the little Byzantine Chiesa di San Pietro, an attractive small building containing Byzantine frescoes. The real-life 'castle of Otranto', the Castello Aragonese, is a mighty construction which formed part of the tough defences of Otranto.

In addition to these tourist sights, visitors can simply roam the lanes of the historic town, coming across picturesque scenes and views. The centre is still enclosed within its defensive walls, which gives a real sense of history. The busiest lanes are lined with souvenir shops and with restaurants and bars.