MuDO reopens to the public

After years of significant and meticulous restoration work, commissioned by Bishop Donato Negro, the "Museo Diocesano" of Otranto will reopen its doors on July 1, 2024 (open from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm) under the episcopate of Bishop Francesco Neri.

The renovated exhibition, spanning three floors of the building, showcases marvelous sculptures, precious silverware, rich textiles, antique printed volumes, and valuable ecclesiastical furnishings.

Among the most valuable works are a monumental 16th-century baptismal font, attributed to the workshop of the famous Salento sculptor Gabriele Riccardi, decorated with relief slabs depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments; fragments of a floor mosaic, dated to the 4th-5th century, discovered under the cathedral's floor during renovations; and various liturgical instruments of great value and refined workmanship.

Stele di Glyka

Of particular interest is the "Glyka Stele," a priceless 3rd-century CE testimony to the Jewish presence in the Greek-speaking Otranto community.

The stele features a bilingual epigraphic inscription, Hebrew and Greek, whose text and the carving of a menorah lend it a sacred character.

New momentum, therefore, for the Archdiocese of Otranto, which is opening up to the community by making its assets increasingly accessible, completely revamping its website, launching two additional thematic sites (mosaicodiotranto.com, mabotranto.it, diocesiotranto.it), and establishing constantly updated social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp). This provides a direct and effective way to communicate what's happening in the diocese, parish initiatives, and the activities being promoted.