Otranto is a seaside town in Lecce Province in the Puglia region on the east coast of the Salento Peninsula. The small town has a picture-perfect seafront and whitewashed houses. When the weather is fine you can see right across the Strait of Otranto to Albania. Some may know the town’s name from the title of Horace Walpole’s novel “The Castle of Ortanto” which is thought to have been the first Gothic novel. Ortanto has the late 15th century Castello Aragonese complete with a moat, draw-bridge, fortified walls and towers. There is a quaint port, seafront promenades and excellent fish restaurants facing the water. Otranto’s star attraction is the Romanesque 11th century cathedral which has impressive floor mosaics and other architectural features. Alongside the cathedral is the Museo Diocesano. Also see the San Pietro Church with its Byzantine frescoes; Villa Communale and the catacombs of Torre Pinta.