The Cathedral of Otranto – 800 martyrs and a unique mosaic floor

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | The Cathedral of Otranto is one of the most fascinating churches we have visited in Italy. It has a famous mosaic floor from the 12th century, but also a martyrs' chapel where the relics of around 800 people who were killed after the Ottoman conquest of Otranto in 1480 are kept behind glass. We visited the cathedral during our motorhome trip through Puglia – and at the same time had the opportunity to discover the charming coastal town of Otranto.

What is the Cathedral of Otranto?

The Cattedrale di Otranto, or Otranto Cathedral, is located in the heart of the historic center of Otranto in southern Puglia. The cathedral was inaugurated in the 11th century and is especially famous for two very special things: its large mosaic floor from the 12th century and the chapel where the relics of the Otranto martyrs are kept.

The church is dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and is actually called Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata. From the outside, the building is relatively restrained, but inside the doors awaits art, history and a tangible reminder of the dramatic events that took place in Otranto in 1480.

The Martyrs of Otranto – the story from 1480

In 1480, Otranto was attacked by an Ottoman force. After a siege, the city was taken and many of the inhabitants were killed or captured. According to Catholic tradition, about 800 men refused to renounce their Christian faith and convert to Islam.

The men were taken to a hill outside the city, where they were executed. The place is known today as Colle dei Martiri, the Hill of Martyrs. The event has taken on a central place in the history of Otranto and the killed men came to be known as the Martyrs of Otranto. In 2013, Antonio Primaldo and his companions were canonized by Pope Francis.

The Martyr Chapel with the relics

One of the most special parts of the cathedral is the Martyr Chapel, Chapel of the Martyrs. Relics are kept here that, according to tradition, belong to the people who were killed after the Ottoman conquest of Otranto.

Behind large glass cabinets along the walls, skulls and other skeletal parts are visible. It is an unusual and quite shocking sight, but the place is above all a religious memorial to the martyrs.

For us, this was of course the part of the cathedral that aroused the most curiosity before the visit. However, once you stand there, the experience becomes more historical and solemn than macabre.

The famous mosaic floor

It's easy to let the Martyr's Chapel get all the attention, but the Cattedrale di Otranto has another attraction that's just as interesting. Almost the entire floor of the church is covered in a large mosaic from the 12th century.

The mosaic was created under the direction of the monk Pantaleone and consists of a multitude of people, animals, biblical motifs and fantasy figures. In the center is a large tree of life, and among the motifs appear both religious stories and more unexpected figures.

It's the kind of work of art that you can spend a long time studying – and a good reason not to just go straight to the martyr's chapel.

Our wait outside the church in high season

Our visit didn’t quite go according to plan. We had planned to take a quick look inside the cathedral and then continue our motorhome journey through Puglia. After battling through the peak season traffic, we arrived at the church at 12:15 – only to discover that it was closed in the middle of the day.

We only had to wait a few hours for the doors to open again. But it turned out to be no big punishment. Otranto is a charming coastal town with old alleys, restaurants and a fantastic location on the Adriatic Sea. We walked around, watched the people and saw bathers throwing themselves into the clear blue water from the rocks in the middle of town.

In retrospect, it was perhaps lucky that the church was closed. Otherwise, we would have probably seen the cathedral and driven on – and missed Otranto itself.

Motorhome parking in Otranto

When we visited Otranto and the cathedral, we stopped at a parking lot that is centrally located and well located in the city, Parcheggio Via Renis. The place is a 24-hour parking lot for both cars and campers, and there is both security and the possibility to fill up on water.

More to see and do in southern Italy

Here you will find more tips on places to discover in the southern part of Italy.

• Puglia
• Tropea in Calabria
• Visiting Pompeii
• Castle of Caserta
• Guide to Sicily