Otranto Castle (Aragonese Castle)

About the turbulent historical past of Otranto, the extreme point of southeastern Italy, now almost nothing recalls. In ancient times of the Roman Empire, it was the main port of the country, providing communication with Asia Minor and Greece. It was then known as the Greek city called first Hydros, then Hidruntum. There, in the distant past, it was conquered by the Normans and besieged by the Turks. Now it is a quiet resort town on the Adriatic, which has lost its port function.

But like almost any self-respecting medieval town, there is a castle here. Being part of a medieval fortress, the majestic Otransky, or as it is also called the Aragonese Castle, is famous for the fact that in 1804 Napoleon’s troops stood here. And, of course, because he is dedicated to the whole Gothic novel by Horace Walpole.