Corigliano D 'Otranto

Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club

Not far from the famous beaches of Salento, Corigliano d 'Otranto is part of Grecìa Salentina, a linguistic island in which griko, an ancient language of Greek origin, is spoken. This tradition is still preserved and developed today: each of the town's main monuments, for example, has a panel with a description in Italian, English and Griko, with the opportunity to listen to a poem recited by a local in this language.

The imposing Castello de’Monti is located at the entrance to the historic centre: dating back to the Middle Ages, with its main façade of great impact and artistic value, richly decorated, it is now a particularly lively place, where guided tours, congresses, events and ceremonies are organised, as well as hosting a restaurant and a café. Entering the heart of the historic centre and strolling through its streets, you can admire the rich architectural, historical and archaeological heritage, including the mother church of St Nicholas, with the central rose window that illuminates the interior with a very suggestive mosaic. The ancient portal known as Arco Lucchetti is embellished with dense carvings of Byzantine, classical and Islamic inspiration: the advice is to stop and admire them, before passing under them.

At the table, there are two typicalproducts to enjoy: Corigliano white truffle andpopaneddha, a sweet cucumber usually consumed in summer as a fruit or as an ingredient for fresh salads.