Description
The Castle, in its initial configuration, dating back to the late 15th century, had a quadrilateral shape (a right-angled trapezoid), with four Rondelle (circular towers) at the corners, with the one facing the sea protruding the most, as often depicted in treatises by Francesco di Giorgio Martini.
The configuration we see today is the result of constant modifications to the fortress throughout the 16th century, dictated by the constant evolution and refinement of firearms. It is bordered on all sides by a deep moat, which is crossed at the entrance by a bridge, today with a stone arch and wooden deck, probably originally a drawbridge.
A narrow corridor leads directly into the ground-floor atrium. Walking through it, one notices the thickening of the façade, built in the early 16th century. All the rooms on this floor, arranged against the external curtain walls, have a rectangular or square plan, overlook the internal courtyard and are covered by vaulted ceilings.
Outside the original quadrilateral are two spaces, undoubtedly among the most representative of the entire structure: the triangular and rectangular rooms. The triangular room was created during the mid-16th-century expansions, when the bastion between the two Rondelles was added to the exterior. Particularly striking is the vaulted ceiling of this room, defined by the intersection of three Carparo stone pavilion claddings that follow the unique shape of the room.
The Cappella De Azevedo
The chapel on the ground floor is partially frescoed and contains various frames and epigraphs, including those from the tomb of Donna Teresa De Azevedo, who died on February 23, 1707. Her husband, Don Francesco de la Serna e Molina, lord of the castle at the time, dedicated a tender epigraph to her, describing her as "an example of modesty, a goddess of beauty, a model of honesty, a descendant of Spanish heroes."
The Underground
Beneath the ground floor lies a maze of tunnels, galleries, and small rooms, known as the "underground" system. These are highly evocative spaces of great historical value, having remained unchanged since their construction, dating back to the original structure in the late 15th century. Only a few passages underwent minor transformations and expansions with the development of firearms in the 16th century.
The basement is where it's easiest to understand the different phases of the Castle's construction: the initial structure from the late 15th century, the linings and reinforcements of the curtain walls and some rondelles from the early 16th century, the addition of the triangular bastion in the mid-16th century, and, finally, the construction of the seaward strut in the late 16th century. A covered stone staircase and an external stone staircase lead to the first-floor gallery, which provides access to a series of rooms that largely mirror the layout and layout of the ground floor. From this level, however, one can access the interior of the three rondelles still present at the corners.
In the heart of the rondelles, protected by a thick external curtain, are circular rooms covered by hemispherical domes made of carparo stone. These contained bombards and cannons aimed at firing ports communicating with the outside. The roofs house patrol paths, protected by thick walls with slits for gun emplacements. Both the outer curtain walls and the interior of the atrium feature coats of arms of sovereigns and nobles who played a key role in the Castle's history.
Of particular interest is the one above the entrance door, featuring the carved coat of arms of Emperor Charles V.
Permanent Exhibition "Prehistoric Places and the Deer Cave"
On the top floor, the permanent exhibition "Prehistoric Places and the Deer Cave" offers a unique insight into approximately 250 archaeological finds selected from the 1970-1971 excavations of the Archaeological Superintendency. The exhibition unfolds through a series of six rooms, where visitors can even experience the evocative experience of a virtual entry into the Deer Cave through a 3D view with special glasses.
The fortress is the setting for the first Gothic novel in history: The Castle of Otranto, by Horace Walpole (1764).
PRICES - Full price €3.00 - Reduced price €2.00
OPENING HOURS: Open daily 10am-1pm and 3pm-6pm
Credits: Municipality of Otranto