Things to do in Botrugno Italy – what to see attractions and activities

The Spinola Castle dates back to the 13th century and over the years it was modified, according to the needs of the period. It is the typical example of military architecture, as it was fortified several times, but inside you can see many Baroque elements of the '700. Today it is owned by the Municipality of Andrano and headquarters of “Costa Otranto”, the Regional Natural Park.

The Costa Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca and Bosco di Tricase Regional Nature Park was established in 2006. On 29 July 2008, the Consortium for the Management of the Park was established. The park covers the territory of the municipalities of Alessano, Andrano, Castrignano del Capo, Castro, Corsano, Diso, Gagliano del Capo, Ortelle, Otranto, Santa Cesarea Terme, Tiggiano and Tricase. This also includes the area where the lighthouse of Punta Palascìa stands, the easternmost point in Italy.

The Lupo Tower is located about 105 meters above sea level, and was built at the end of the fifteenth century for reasons of defence against the Saracen attacks. The tower has a cylindrical shape, and is 7 meters high. Until 1986 the structure was in total abandonment, later it became private property. However, it is currently in a very bad state of preservation.

The Zinzulusa is a coastal natural cave that is located along the Salento coast between Castro and Santa Cesarea Terme. The waters in front are equipped for bathing, and highly appreciated for their cleanliness and clarity.

The Corigliano Castle is one of the most special architectural models found in the municipality of Corigliano d'Otranto. It was built in a quadrangular shape with four corner towers and surrounded by a deep moat. On the facade we can admire paintings by several famous people of the time. Between 1514 and 1519 the building was renovated by Giovan Battista de' Monti. In 1667 the structure passed to the Trani family who transformed it into a ducal palace.

The church of Santa Chiara is located in the historic center of Lecce, in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. Its first foundation, commissioned by Bishop Thomas Ammirato, dates back to 1429; between 1687 and 1691 it was thoroughly restored.

The tower is of sixteenth-century origins and is located near the coastal area. In fact, we are talking only about what has remained from the original construction: a truncated conical structure, which at the time connected the north side with the south side.

The most striking cave of Gargano is definitely the Cave of the Serpent, so named because, immediately after the entry you can see a sort of image that looks like a cobra carved in the onyx wall. It is located in Porto Badisco

The building was built at the end of 1500, by the will of Baron Pietro Barone Massa. Currently, the building is owned by the Municipality.

The Torre del Sasso, also known as the “Tower of the Myth”, was built in the 16th century. This is a typical example of military architecture, built for defensive reasons. At the time, he had a system of cannons to warn the inhabitants of the surrounding areas in the event of danger. Currently, only the ruins are left, positioned more than 100 m above sea level.

The Castle of Tutino was built in 1580, by Don Luigi Trane. Originally, the castle had nine towers, of which today only five are left. Currently, the best preserved part is the back, the one facing east. The structure passed into the hands of several owners, the last were the Caputo, who allocated space for tobacco processing until the sixties of the last century.

The Masseria, located between Tricase and Andrano, was established in the plant of the Abbey of Santa Maria del Mito, which dates back to the 8th century. She took this function only in the '600, because of the problems she had, which forced her, later, to be desecrated. The building was badly damaged by the Turks, and as a result, today only the remaining ruins of the original plant can be admired.

The Quercia Vallonea di Tricase is located in the beautiful area of Salento. He is 600 years old and is among the oldest specimens in Europe. Various stories and legends were born around the oak tree. It is one of the places of particular interest for tourists visiting this area.

The Civic Museum of Paleontology is home to outstanding collections of prehistoric. It was founded in 1960 by the Speleological Group Salentino and is entitled to Decio de Laurentiis, who directed him until his death. The exhibition starts with the earliest evidence of life in Salento about Cretaceous era to reach up to the beginning of the Iron Age.

Made in the period of Norman rule, between 1080 and 1088, the Cathedral of the Annunciation with its 54 meters long and 25 meters wide, is the largest church in Puglia. In Romanesque style, the cathedral collects in its structure Norman, Arabic and Greek elements.

Porta Alfonsina was built during the fifteenth century as part of the city walls. It was commissioned by Alfonso of Aragon, from whom it also took its name. His is a polygonal structure, and it was built to defend the city from possible enemy attacks. Today, the building is in a good state of preservation.

The castle has medieval origins, but the current appearance is the result of a series of restorations carried out over the years. It is a large pentagonal plant with a defensive character. Today, it is in an excellent state of preservation. The majesty of the castle inspired the writer Horace Walpole in the creation of the first Gothic novel in the history of literature.

Church of Byzantine origin which is located in the historic center of Otranto. It is one of the most representative buildings of the Byzantine mold of the South.

The Porta San Vito was erected during the fourteenth century for reasons of defending the ancient city of Soleto. The structure is surmounted by a statue of the Madonna in stone. Today, the door is in excellent condition.

The Wine Museum is located inside a millstone, built towards the end of the nineteenth century in the historic center of Parabita. The exhibition traces, through instruments and ancient objects, the cycle of wine production. You can then admire demijohns, barrels, furates, bascules and other numerous tools that are useful in winemaking.

The “E. Giannelli” Quadreria is located within the rooms of Palazzo Ferrari. The museum exhibits forty-three paintings and ten sculptures. The works belong to various authors such as Vincenzo Caprile, Giuseppe Costa, Ennio Marzano, Camillo Miola etc. in this collection are located some beautiful canvases belonging to Giannelli, where they come represented the marinas of the Gulf of Naples and Salento.

The Palane Tower, 15 meters high, is part of the system of the watchtowers of the Salento peninsula. The structure was built in the 16th century, and has a plan with a pyramidal trunk, built with sandstone blocks.

The Franciscan Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, today a national monument: it was commissioned and made by Raimondello Orsini del Balzo and consecrated in 1391.

The Bay of the Turks, a few kilometers north of Otranto, is the place where, according to tradition, Turkish warriors landed during the siege of the city of Otranto in the fifteenth century. Sandy and unspoiled, the bay belongs to the precious protected oasis of the Alimini Lakes, one of the most important ecosystems of Salento and Puglia.

The Castle was built around the fifteenth century at the behest of Baron Gaspare Petraroli of Ostuni. He had this building built after Ferdinand of Aragon gave him the city. Overall, it is a modest, not imposing construction that looks more like a residential building. It is currently in good condition and you can still see its original form.