Monumento agli Eroi e Martiri di Otranto

LThe idea of ​​creating a monument dedicated to the Heroes and Martyrs of Otranto didn't arise suddenly, but rather developed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Otranto was preparing to commemorate the fourth centenary of the Martyrdom of the 800. In those years, the city was tragically burdened by the neglect of its institutions and the Province of Terra d'Otranto itself, leading to a seemingly unstoppable decline. By the end of the century, Otranto had just over 2,000 inhabitants.'

Duke Sigismondo Castromediano, a distinguished figure from Lecce, a fervent patriot, a member of the first parliament in 1861, and a councilor for the Province of Terra d'Otranto, sent a letter to the Mayor of Otranto, launching the idea of ​​celebrating the capture of Otranto with great solemnity, not only religious but also civic. "If the Heroes and Martyrs cooperated in the salvation of the Fatherland, it is right that a reborn Italy should grant them a very high place in its Pantheon."

The civic commemoration was first celebrated on August 14, 1880, on the Colle della Minerva. A commemorative inscription composed by the archaeologist Luigi De Simone, known by heart by our ancestors, was placed in the church on the hill. In it, Otranto itself narrates the historical event, both in honor of the martyrs for the faith and in honor of the 12,000 "sons of mine."

In the church, inscriptions were also placed bearing the names of several martyrs and warriors who died in the tragic event. This thread, which bound country and religion without distinction, led to the formation of a Committee, traced in a 1907 letter addressed to the Turin newspaper L'Italia Reale, where the desire to create a National Monument in Otranto first appeared. Finally, Otranto had awakened!!! "A noble cry has risen from mighty Otranto, a fervent appeal to the Italians' sense of country and religion is addressed by a Committee composed of distinguished figures under the presidency of His Excellency Archbishop Gaetano Caporali and Mayor Tommaso Villani." After years of near-fatal decline, with Otranto reduced to just over 2,000 inhabitants at the end of the 19th century, finally a sign of a desire for rebirth.

The Committee's intention was to erect the Monument on the Martyrs' Hill. The designated artist was Antonio Bortone, a native of Ruffano and a renowned sculptor. He created a grandiose sketch that allegorically fused the ideals of patriotism and religion in the figure of an imposing woman, with a haughty gaze turned toward the East, her arms clutching the cross and flag, emblems of faith. Her head was encircled by a diadem with a cameo depicting the city's emblem, the Torre del Serpe, and a pendant on her forehead depicting the Aragonese coat of arms. The coat of arms of the Province of Terra d'Otranto was engraved on her cloak: a dolphin holding the Turkish crescent between its lips and the Torre del Serpe repeatedly.

Behind the bronze statue, a large exedra would have commemorated the key moments of the events of 1480 and 1481 with bronze bas-reliefs. Unfortunately, this last part of the project could not be realized due to financial constraints, but two bas-reliefs depicting the massacre of the Martyrs and the capture of the city by the Aragonese were placed on the sides of the Trani stone column supporting the statue.

The cornerstone was solemnly laid on August 13, 1911, in the presence of civil and religious authorities, amidst a crowd of Otrantines and bathers. A commemorative parchment and the relics of the martyrs, enclosed in a metal container, were also buried. The Committee worked tirelessly to raise the necessary funds for the project, despite many difficulties. The considerable sum that Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph had allocated in memory of the Hungarians who had come to Otranto's aid against the common Ottoman enemy in 1480 could not be counted on. The First World War was the cause. Furthermore, the Province was also unwilling to contribute financially.

Finally, in 1918, the Monument was placed where we see it today. The Piazzale overlooking the sea, with the demolition of the walls and the design by architect Marschizek, seemed the ideal solution to ensure maximum visibility. On December 3, 1922, the inauguration day finally arrived. None other than HRH the "little prince," as he was known in Otranto, came with an entourage of politicians to honor our city. After the customary greetings, refreshments, and tributes, the procession reached the inauguration site, where the canopies for the dignitaries, the band, and the crowd eagerly awaited. At this event, which came after the First World War and caused mourning in every Italian family, all those who spoke, from Archbishop Patanè to Minister of the Navy Tahon De Rével, to the politicians, compared the heroic religious and patriotic grandeur of the Otranto Martyrs to the greatness and glory of the Italian people who had sacrificed themselves to victory. The Martyrs and Heroes thus became forerunners of the greatness and unity of Italy! A passage from the Minister of the Navy's speech was significant for the city. He expressed hope for the civil and economic resurrection of abandoned Otranto, whose ancient prestige was preserved only by the Catholic Church. Meanwhile, he pledged his word as head of the Italian Navy, and even more so as Minister of the Government, to cooperate in the completion of the port works. This statement was met with much hopeful applause. Subsequently, the Committee President, Cav. Villani, handed over the monument to the city's mayor, Mr. Pio Bruni, with the former's request to guard it and cherish it as a sacred thing, and the latter's request to receive it with gratitude, with the assurance that "Otranto will know how to guard it and cherish it as a sacred thing, because this magnificent statue, to which the hand of a distinguished artist has breathed almost a breath of life, is of inestimable value to us Otrantines; it represents everything to us, in it we see the purest and most cherished ideals: Homeland and Religion." This commitment was certainly made by the Mayor at the time and passed on to future mayors. The monument was unveiled and the Archbishop blessed it. To the tune of the Banda il Principe, the politicians and clerics left the stages, and the celebration continued among the cheering populace. 

Text by Rita Paiano