The Cathedral of Otranto – the main Catholic Church of Otranto, one of the most outstanding in the Italian region of Puglia. It was built on the ruins of ancient Roman dwellings and the early Church that it was found during archaeological work conducted from 1986 to 1990-th years.

The construction of the Cathedral began in 1080, the year, during the reign of Pope Gregory VII, and was completed eight years later. In 1088, the year the new Cathedral was consecrated. That period, the end of the 11th century was the heyday of historic Otranto, which bore the name of Hydroton.

Today the Cathedral of Otranto is a true synthesis of various architectural styles, in which the mixed early Christian, Byzantine and Romanesque features. Inside it consists of a Central nave, two side aisles, a semicircular apse and two side chapels. The main nave is framed 14 granite columns with various capitals. The total length of the Cathedral is 54 meters width – 25 meters. In 1693, the year was made a wonderful wooden ceiling, gilded and richly decorated. Three altar of the right aisle is dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ, Saint Dominic, and the assumption of the blessed virgin Mary, and the altars of the left side chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity, God's Providence and Saint Anthony of Padua.

But perhaps the main attraction of the Cathedral is its unique mosaic floor, made in 1163, the year by order of the Bishop Gionata. On this floor worked the monk Pantaleon, head of the art school of the University of Casole. The mosaic covers the floor of the Central nave, two side aisles, apse and the presbytery. It is made of colored glazes, cut from a solid limestone, and bears the features of Byzantine and Romanesque styles. The built with the help of his creations wanted to show the drama of human life – the eternal struggle between Good and Evil, virtue with Vice.

Two flights of stairs, located in the side chapels of the Cathedral, leads to the crypt, which occupies the space under the side chapels, the apse and the choir. To get into the crypt is also possible through the door located on the side of the main entrance to the Cathedral. The date of construction of the crypt remains unknown, but she probably dates back to the Roman times. Inside you can see 42 columns from different types of marble, topped by capitals. On the walls are fragments of ancient frescoes.