Page 519 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

ABRUZZ O , MOLISE AND PUGLIA  517

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Practical Information
* 105,000. n Via Vittorio
Emanuele 23 (0832 68 29 85), Via
Monte San Michele 20 (0832 31
41 17). _ 24–26 Aug: Sant’
Oronzo; 13– 24 Dec: Fiera dei Pupi Detail of a 15th-century fresco in Santa
e Pastori. ∑ ilecce.it Caterina d’Alessandria
Transport
V Viale Oronzo Quarta. i Galatina
@ Via Boito & Via Adua.
Lecce. * 28,000. V @ n Sala
dell’Orologio (0836 56 99 84). ( Thu.
. Santa Croce _ 29 Jun: Feast of Saints Peter & Paul.
Built 1549–1679, this church was The 16th-century ∑ www.comune.galatina.le.it
begun by Gabriele Riccardi; the Castello
V I A U M B E R TO I
rose window is by Lo Zingarello. lies between ancient An important Greek colony in
Next door is the ex-convent of city and modern the Middle Ages, this città d’arte
the Celestines. suburbs. A 12th-century (city of art, a status given by the
construction is enclosed
PIAZZA
CASTROMEDIANO by a wall built later by region) retains its Greek flavour.
It is the centre of one of Puglia’s
Charles V. Only one floor
chief wine-producing regions,
is open to the public.
although it is more famous for
the ritual of tarantism (see p515).
The Gothic church of Santa
Caterina d’Alessandria (begun
1384) on Piazza Orsini contains
early 15th-century frescoes with
scenes from the Old and New
SANT ORONZO Testaments that glorify the
PIAZZA
,
Orsini, who were feudal lords.
V I A A G R A N D I
V I A L E X X V LU G L I O
Colonna di
Sant’Oronzo o Otranto
Church of St Oronzo was
San Matteo appointed Bishop of Lecce. * 5,500. V @ g n Piazza
Lecce by St Paul in Castello (0836 84 14 36). ( Wed.
AD 57, and later martyred ∑ www.comune.otranto.le.it
by the Roman emperor
, Nero. This bronze statue Otranto was one of Republican
dates from 1739. Rome’s leading ports for trade
with Asia Minor and Greece,
and under the Byzantines was
VIA D ARAGONA
V I A L E C C E an important toehold of the
Eastern Empire in Italy. In 1070
VIA PALADINI
it fell to the Normans.
Turks attacked in 1480
and slaughtered its
inhabi tants. The 800
survivors were promised
their lives if they
Railway renounced Christianity:
station
A Roman theatre all refused.
was excavated The Norman Duomo
virtually intact (founded 1080) on Via
with its orchestra Duomo houses the
and seats. bones of the martyrs.
There is a 12th-century
mosaic floor and a fine
crypt. A castle (1485–98)
built by the Aragonese
V I A R . C A R A C C I O L O
Roman Amphitheatre at the centre of town
Excavated in 1938, only part adds to Otranto’s charm,
of this 1st-century-BC and there are some fine
amphitheatre is visible. beaches close by.
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