Andrano

Andrano owes much of its charm to its imposing castle, which was built in the 13th century as a defensive bulwark and became the noble residence of the Caracciolo family in the 16th century. The presence of the corner towers suggests that the building was already designed with a dual defensive and residential function, and when the Turkish invasions eased, the lords of the village had its appearance refined. In the centre of the village is the 16th-century Church of the Dominicans, which contains the tomb of Antonio Saraceni (1489), a captain who participated in the liberation of Otranto from the Turks (1481). Continuing towards the coast, 3 km south-east of Andrano, in the Cutizze city wards, is the Crypt of the Madonna dell'Attarico, with faint traces of Byzantine paintings. Further on, you reach Marina di Andrano, which, with its cliffs, coves and emerald sea, offers an easy excuse for a dip in the Adriatic.