The Lecce Baroque: history and origins
Lecce
Whitely gilded
is the sky where
on the ledges they run
sweet-breasted angels,
Saracen warriors and learned donkeys
with rich ruffs.
A fast-paced game
of the soul that is afraid
weather,
multiply figures,
defends itself
from a sky that is too clear.
An air of gold
mild and unhurried
he entertains himself in that kingdom
of useless gears including
the seed of boredom
it unfolds its arrogantly witty flowers
and as for bet
a stone carnival
simulates infinity in a thousand guises.
(from After the Moon, 1956)
Vittorio Bodini was an established Apulian poet and translator, he was born in Bari but spent his childhood in the Salento capital, he translated into Italian several Spanish writers including Federico Garcia Lorca and Miguel de Cervantes. In his poem "Lecce" we find a splendid and exciting description of the Lecce Baroque and we start from here to talk about this architectural style which in two centuries, between 1550 and 1730, changed the face of the city forever and made it the jewel it is today, capable of attracting visitors from all over the world.
Let's start from the words of an established translator of Spanish works for a specific reason, the link between Spain and Italy is not accidental if we talk about the Lecce Baroque, this style is in fact very influenced by the Spanish Plateresque, an artistic style that flourished in Spain. in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, characterized by many ornaments and composed starting from the imitation of silverware works (in Spanish “plata”), from which the name of plateresque derives. A few decades after the Spanish presence in the Kingdom of Naples contributes decisively to the customs clearance of this taste for details and decorations and therefore to the birth of the Lecce Baroque. There are also other historical reasons behind this Baroque spring in the Heel of Italy, such as the outcome of the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, which considerably weakened the armies of the Ottoman Empire, making southern Italy less exposed to raids by pirates and invasions by the enemy. Finally, the Counter-Reformation, or a set of measures of spiritual, theological and liturgical renewal with which the Catholic Church reformed its institutions after the Council of Trent. Following these measures, many churches were re-adapted at an architectural level to be more functional to the new post-Tridentine liturgies, many buildings of medieval construction were "renovated", through embellishments with stuccoes, marbles and various decorations, which made them assume
these look like baroque churches. But the Baroque was particularly lucky in Salento also thanks to the quality of the local stone used: the Lecce stone, which we have already talked about in this blog, or a soft and compact limestone with warm and golden tones suitable for working with the stonemason.
The Lecce Baroque is immediately recognizable even to less experienced spectators, due to its gaudy decorations that characterize the coatings of the buildings: precisely baroque exuberances, floral motifs, human figures and mythological animals, friezes and coats of arms. All this richness of agricultural and floral decorative elements is a metaphor for the "grace of God" and the beauty of creation. Among the most common fruits are the pine cone, a symbol of fertility and abundance, the apple, a symbol of temptation but also of redemption, the pomegranate, a symbol of the Resurrection, the vine, an attribute of Christ.
This new style, which at first only affected sacred and noble buildings, then spread also in civil architecture and therefore its floral motifs, figures, mythological animals, friezes and coats of arms also triumphed on the facades, balconies and on the portals of private buildings.
Until then Lecce had been a fortified city, almost austere, gathered around the severe bulk of the Castle of Charles V, but in less than two centuries it changed considerably, becoming that "... stone carnival, which simulates the infinite ”recounted by Bodini in his beautiful verses. In the next article of this blog we will see to analyze in detail each of the buildings resulting from this admirable architectural revolution.
The best routes in Salento: trekking, walking, cycling, motorbike or other First itinerary: Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca coast road
The recent success of Salento as a tourist destination is mainly due to the splendor of its coast and the beauty of the capital Lecce, but there is much more to discover: archaeological, naturalistic, landscape and food and wine treasures are widespread throughout the Salento peninsula. A great way to discover them all is to pack your backpack and set off on an adventure, along itineraries, to be covered on foot, by bike, by motorbike or by car, which are a journey in stages between the pleasures of nature, food, culture and local history, let's see some of them in this and in the next posts on our blog.
We begin our journey by car or motorbike, on the magnificent coast road Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca, undoubtedly one of the most fascinating tours of Salento, as well as one of the most beautiful panoramic roads in Italy. While skirting the Adriatic, the jewels of the Salento coast follow one after the other: on one side the cliffs overlooking the sea, the ancient defense towers, the caves and inlets, on the other side the centuries-old olive trees, the typical dry stone walls, many small town halls rich in history and artistic beauties, with their bars overlooking the historic centers, where you can stop to cool off with a pasticciotto and an ice coffee.
It starts from Otranto, after visiting the city center and walking on the ramparts, continue towards the south and entering the vegetation you can admire an unusual sight: an emerald green lake in a hollow of the intense red soil, surrounded by the green of the marsh vegetation, the result of a disused bauxite quarry where nature has magically created a new ecosystem. A few kilometers and another spectacle awaits us, the Punta Palascia Lighthouse, the easternmost place in Italy, from which you can admire a breathtaking panorama. Continuing to drive always keeping the sea on the left, we continue to admire the ever new views that the cliff and the vegetation create at every turn. A few more kilometers and we arrive in Porto Badisco, where we can admire the bay (one of Enea's possible first landings in Italy) and, if the season permits, indulge in an unmissable lunch based on the freshest sea urchins. After this tasty lunch break we leave again, we cross the pretty Santa Cesarea Terme, which, as the name suggests, is also a renowned spa. Immediately behind Santa Cesarea, we find the beauty of Porto Miggiano, a rocky cove with a sandy bottom, located in an inlet overlooking the sea, protected by an ancient watchtower, it is one of the most spectacular beaches of the Puglia, sheltered from the winds; the natural play of lights, colors and the turquoise sea make it the ideal place for snorkeling. We still follow the road and we find the suggestive Zinzulusa cave, created in prehistoric times by marine erosion, is a spectacle of stalactites and stalagmites that are reflected in the turquoise water inside a majestic cavity. We continue through Castro and from here we reach the marina of Marittima, where there is another beautiful inlet, that of Acquaviva, so called because of the cold water springs that flow from the rock. Immediately after there is the marina of Andrano, with the unmissable seaside resorts, such as the Green Grotto, after that there is the splendid Tricase Porto, one of the most evocative and elegant holiday resorts of the entire eastern coast of Puglia. Here we can choose whether to continue along the sea or to allow ourselves a detour towards the interior of the territory, where there are many municipalities that are certainly worth a visit, such as Specchia, surrounded by centuries-old olive trees, and recently inserted among the most beautiful villages in Italy. Among pretty alleys and stairways stand out the sixteenth-century Risolo palace and the fifteenth-century cathedral in Piazza del Popolo; not far away the Baronial Palace, the Byzantine Church of Santa Eufemia and that of the Black Franciscans, adorned with valuable frescoes. It is also worth giving yourself a visit to the ancient underground oil mills of the town, restored and open to the public, where you can often and willingly also make deserving tastings of local products.
If, on the other hand, we have chosen to continue along the coast, the last kilometers of the coastal road start from Marina Serra, to the end of the earth, in the middle of the Ciolo bridge, which dominates one of the most loved and photographed inlets of the entire Salento coast.
The time for a last look at the enchanting coast of Salento and we arrived in Santa Maria di Leuca: in front of us all that remains is the blue of the sea.
We visit the Sanctuary on the promontory, the very high lighthouse, the aqueduct waterfall and the eclectic style villas, built by local nobles in a competition of luxury and eccentricity. Time to have dinner and we can enjoy the night on the bustling promenade.
The best routes in Salento: trekking, walking, cycling, motorbike or other Trekking itineraries
The recent success of Salento as a tourist destination is mainly due to the splendor of its coast and the beauty of the capital Lecce, but there is much more to discover: archaeological, naturalistic, landscape and food and wine treasures are widespread throughout the Salento peninsula. An excellent way to discover them all is to pack your backpack and set off on an adventure, along itineraries to be covered on foot, by bike, by motorbike or by car, which are a journey in stages between the pleasures of nature, of food. , local culture and history. Let's see some of them in this and in the next posts on our blog.
In a previous article on this blog we had already analyzed in detail the route Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca, to be covered by car making numerous stops to enjoy the splendid landscapes, excellent food and all the cultural heritage that can be enjoyed in Salento . Today we will see what trekking enthusiasts can do in the area.
In fact, trekking in Salento is possible and the paths to be done are many and interesting both from the landscape and cultural point of view, obviously we are not talking about slopes or differences in height to which trekking enthusiasts who frequent the mountains are used, but we are talking about routes and walks capable of lasting whole days and that allow you to combine the passion for physical activity with the possibility of spending a few hours on the beach.
The first itinerary we recommend is that of Porto Selvaggio: we start from Santa Caterina with a suggestive climb up to Torre dell'Alto, with the first stop at the Capelvenere cave; arrived at the tower we proceed down along the stone stairs that cross the pine forest, until we reach the small bay of Porto Selvaggio, here another stop is inevitable to take a bath in the crystal clear waters of the bay, before continuing along the cliff, until you reach the Grotta del Cavallo and the Bay of Uluzzo with its tower. The route is around 7 kilometers long and it is not too difficult, so if you still have enough energy you can continue with a visit to the town of Nardò or with a suggestive aperitif at sunset in one of the numerous bars in the area.
The second proposal is a trekking route about 13 kilometers long, which starts from the Port of Otranto to reach Punta Palascia and from here return through the disused bauxite quarry.
From the Port of Otranto we immediately find coastal paths, easily passable, from which we will immediately be in sight of the Torre del Serpe, which we reach after a short climb. We go around the tower and follow the path towards the Orte Bay. We arrive in the heart of the bay, where the coast slopes down to its lowest point and nature is still wild and unspoiled. Enjoying the contrast between the bare rocks and the vegetative patches we continue towards Punta Palascia. From this point and up to the arrival at the lighthouse of Punta Palascia the landscape takes your breath away and on clear days with the wind from the North you can admire the mountains of Albania. Once at the lighthouse we are geographically in the most eastern point of Italy. The place is also known as Capo d’Otranto. The old lighthouse, erected in 1897, has recently been renovated and has become a popular destination for tourists. From here you can in fact enjoy a spectacular view, with the lighthouse that stands out among the rocks and overlooks the infinite crystalline expanse of the sea, at the point where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet. Once you reach the lighthouse, to return to Otranto, you can reach the provincial road that connects Otranto to Santa Cesarea Terme. We walk along a path on the side of the road and returning to Otranto we stop at the beautiful former bauxite quarry.
Continuing further north we come to a crossroads with the SP358 road. We cross the intersection and take a downhill road that soon reaches the outskirts of Otranto, Santa Maria dei Martiri. We continue going down to a stone bridge from which on the right we reach the small chapel of Santa Maria del Passo, near the port, where our journey ends.
The third excursion we recommend will take you to discover the Alimini Lakes and the Baia dei Turchi. The itinerary takes place through the streets and paths of the Alimini Lakes, a natural site of high naturalistic interest for the Apulian territory. The two lakes act as a great oasis for many plant and animal species. The circular route continues towards the legendary Baia dei Turchi, where according to tradition the Ottomans landed to besiege the city of Otranto in the 15th century. This route is around 10 km long, but unlike the other two it has no slope, not even minimal, it is therefore much more relaxing and we advise you to integrate it with a visit to the numerous farmhouses in the area, or with a horse ride in the countryside. surrounding or, if the season permits, with a swim in one of the many splendid coves that meet along the beach adjacent to the two lakes.
Slightly shorter, less sporty and more relaxing excursions can be done in the hinterland, such as visiting the La Mandra di Calimera Natural Park. At the edge of the road that runs along the park you can admire a splendid and huge example of carob, the pine forest that extends for 90,000 square meters is entirely open to visitors and inside paths and picnic areas with tables and benches have been created. From the parts of Tricase, on the other hand, you can visit the local wood and admire the famous Quercia Vallonea, a magnificent specimen of oak that is certainly more than 800 years old.
2021 Real Estate Bonus Guide: Superbonus 110%
If you are thinking of renovating your home, 2021 is the right year. Thanks to the generous deductions provided by the various bonuses it will be very convenient to make the properties more efficient, especially from the energy and consumption point of view. There are many tax reliefs available to Italians, starting from the now well-known Superbonus 110%, the Restructuring Bonus, one of the most appreciated and used by Italian citizens, the Facade Bonus and even the lesser-known Water Bonus and Green Bonus, so we have thought to dedicate this and the next articles on this blog to this topic, with the intention of offering practical help with easy-to-consult guides, which make a bit of order among all the facilities that you can take advantage of during the year. An article in this series will be dedicated to the Public Notice Title II Chapter 3, a measure by which the Puglia Region intends to favor access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises.
We specify that the 2021 Real Estate Bonus Guide of the Mariano Blog - Immobili nel Salento is a first tool to find your way around the provisions in force and which obviously cannot replace professional and personalized advice. We are happy to offer you an initial orientation, which cannot however be separated from the subsequent involvement of the technical professionals of the sector.
Let's start with the Superbonus 110%.
The Superbonus 110% is an incentive measure introduced by the D.L. "Relaunch" 19 May 2020, n. 34, which aims to make homes more energy efficient. The mechanism provides that the interventions can also be carried out at no cost. The incentive consists of a 110% deduction that is applied to the expenses incurred from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2022, to be divided among those entitled in five annual installments, for the part of the expenditure incurred in the year 2022 in four installments. annual payments of the same amount. For condominiums, the time limit is extended until 31 December 2022, but only if at least 60% of the works have been completed as of 30 June 2022.
To take advantage of the measure in question it is necessary to carry out at least two so-called "driving" interventions. The driving interventions are the thermal insulation of the building envelope, multi-family or single-family, the replacement of heating systems with centralized systems, the replacement of heating systems on single-family buildings or on real estate units located inside multi-family buildings that are functionally independent and have one or more independent accesses from the outside. Once at least two of the "driving" interventions have been carried out, the beneficiary can also carry out other so-called "towed" interventions, such as the replacement of fixtures, solar shading, the installation of photovoltaic systems, storage systems, columns for recharging electric vehicles, home automation systems, the elimination of architectural barriers for people with disabilities in serious situations and for people over the age of 65, and much more. The set of these interventions (driving and towing) must involve a minimum improvement of at least two energy classes of the building or of the real estate unit located inside multi-family buildings that is functionally independent and has one or more independent accesses from the external. Individuals can carry out the work on a maximum of two residential units, except for interventions on the common parts which are always facilitated, regardless of the number of units owned. To take advantage of the measure, it is obviously necessary to guarantee both the urban and cadastral legitimacy of the property, in the event of any abuse, this must be remedied or, if this were impossible, demolished, before accessing the bonus.
The asseveration of the technician in charge of following the work is the main document with which the right to obtain the super bonus is documented and certified, this is issued at the end of the work or for each state of progress of the work equal to at least 30% of the total value the estimate of the work to be carried out. The certification must be prepared online by the technician on the ENEA website using the official forms issued by the MISE and at a later time Enea will also be able to carry out random checks on the correctness of the declarations uploaded to the portal.
At this point the beneficiary can decide to exercise the option of the discount on the invoice: the company or companies that have carried out the works apply a discount of up to 100% of the invoice value and the citizen thus carries out the works without any monetary outlay. . The company will receive a tax credit equal to 110% of the amount of the discount applied, to be used again in five annual installments of the same amount (or in four for expenses incurred in 2022), otherwise the citizen can incur in first person the cost of the work and then decide whether to use the deduction in compensation to pay less taxes or transfer the tax credit to third parties (including credit institutions).
The ultimate goal of the provision in question is to facilitate a virtuous market mechanism that offers benefits to all those involved: citizens can renovate their home for free, reduce the cost of bills and enhance their real estate assets; the company can increase its turnover thanks to the higher volume of work; the state can make homes more efficient and safer and support the increase in employment and income.
What are the procedures to follow when buying in Italy?
What are the procedures to follow when buying in Italy?
It is good to inquire and arrive prepared before carrying out a very delicate action such as buying a house. Precisely for this reason, we recommend that you always rely on an expert in the sector, real estate agents or real estate agencies that offer consultancy activities in the search for the property, manage the first contracts and can ensure assistance in the various stages of the sale which are:
• the negotiation or pre-contractual phase;
• the irrevocable purchase proposal;
• acceptance of the purchase proposal;
• the preliminary contract;
• the deed of real estate sale or notarial deed.
The customer or company coming from abroad must necessarily follow the regulations of the Italian law which imposes some fundamental requirements such as the possession of a tax code issued by the tax office, or it can be requested at the Italian Consulate (in any city of origin ) while for companies it must be requested directly from the competent Revenue Agency in Italy. The buyer, in the event that he cannot be present himself during the transition period, entrusts an Attorney with the task of following the necessary operations until the end, which will take place after registration.
Let's better define the points to follow:
- One of the most important phases is undoubtedly the negotiation, necessary to define the terms and details of a transfer, such as to be able to satisfy both the buyer and the seller. From here the payment methods are established, the limits with respect to the delivery of the property and the signing of the deed of sale, the notice by the buyer of the possible need to access a mortgage and the communications of any existing constraints on the ownership by the seller.
- The second phase concerns the purchase proposal that binds the party proposing the purchase after signing. However, it is not binding on the seller until he signs it. If at the expiry of the term of validity the seller does not accept, the proposal will be useless. Therefore, for both parties, it is advisable to include mortgage registrations or charges of any kind in the proposal. During the proposal it is right to read the main documentation relating to the property, as well as indicating whether you intend to take advantage of a mortgage or any other payment procedure.
- Acceptance of the proposal follows, accompanied by a non-interest bearing check which in the event of non-acceptance by the seller will be returned, on the contrary if the contract is concluded, with the approval of the seller, this sum will become a confirmation deposit. (Article 1385 of the Civil Code). All payments must be made through checks or bank transfers and must be kept until the notarial deed is signed. With the contract concluded, the Real Estate Agent has the right to receive the commission.
- The preliminary sale is a document that sees the commitment between the two parties to sell and buy, with a precise identification of the parties themselves (if there are more than one) and the object for sale. This can be drawn up with the assistance of a professional, who in Italy often identifies with the figure of the Notary, who will take care of the drafting of the final deed and will make an accurate assessment in the tax field, will carry out inspections of mortgage surveys. and cadastral, will verify the validity of each clause, will check the personal data, the exact identification of the parts and the property, the agreed price, the payment methods, the date on which the parties intend to stipulate the notarial deed indicating the chosen notary, of the existence or not of mortgage or other bonds. This is followed by the registration of the purchase proposal and the preliminary at the Revenue Office and the transcription of the preliminary at the Land Agency Real Estate Advertising Service.
- Finally, the signing of the final sale contract, or notarial deed which is the main sales contract, signed by the buyer and the seller before the Notary, chosen and paid by the buyer. The notary has the task of verifying that the property is full, not burdened with prejudicial formalities and of checking the identity of the owners and the identification of the property to be purchased. From that moment the asset will be transferred in all respects from the seller to the buyer.
What are the taxes to pay while buying a property in Italy?
What are the taxes to pay while buying a property in Italy?
When you buy a house you are subjected to the payment of certain taxes, such as VAT, registration tax, mortgage tax and land registry tax. Taxes may vary according to the destination of the property, that is, if it is a first home, and by the seller, for example if it is a private individual, a construction company or another company inclined to buy and sell real estate.
Let's analyze the possible hypotheses better.
• PURCHASE OF THE FIRST HOME
If a private individual buys the house, the taxes to be paid are:
- Registration tax at 2%
- Fixed mortgage tax of € 50.00.00
- Fixed cadastral tax of € 50.00.00
If the seller is a construction company and the works have been completed for a maximum of 4 years, the following will be paid:
- 4% VAT
- Fixed registration tax of € 200.00.00
- Fixed cadastral tax of € 200.00.00
If, on the other hand, you buy from a construction company that has completed the work for more than 4 years, or if you buy from a non-construction company that is solely dedicated to the purchase and sale of the property, the taxes to be paid are:
- Registration tax at 2%
- Fixed mortgage tax of € 200.00.00
- Fixed cadastral tax of € 200.00.00
• PURCHASE OF A SECOND HOME
In this case the taxes to be paid change, if a buyer buys a property always for residential use but it is not a first home, there are two possibilities:
1) It is bought from a private individual, from a non-construction company, from a construction company after 4 years from the end of the works;
2) Or it is purchased from a construction company within 4 years.
In the first case, the following must be paid:
- Registration tax at 9%
- Fixed mortgage tax of € 50.00.00
- Fixed cadastral tax of € 50.00.00
For the second hypothesis instead:
- 10% VAT (20% if it is a luxury property)
- Fixed registration tax of € 200.00.00
- Fixed mortgage tax of € 200.00.00
- Fixed cadastral tax of € 200.00.00
But how are the values on which taxes are calculated?
It is of obvious interest to know how the aforementioned taxes are actually paid and calculated. They can be credited directly at the time of registration of the deed of sale. If a private individual is buying, the taxes are calculated on the cadastral value of the property. If the buyer is not a private individual or the sale concerns land, shops and offices, the calculation will refer to the price notified in the deed of purchase and not to the cadastral value. VAT is also calculated from the purchase price when the value added tax is to be paid. If, on the other hand, the purchase price is explicitly indicated in the deed, the buyer can clearly ask the notary that the taxes are counted on the cadastral value and not on the price paid. So even on the notary fee there is a discount of 30%.
Archeology of Salento: the hinterland
It is enough to identify Salento on any map to observe its geographical centrality within the Mediterranean Sea, universally recognized as the cradle of all Western civilization; observing the position of the Salento peninsula we immediately understand how this has been, over the centuries, an almost obligatory passage for the movement from east to west that characterized the history of ancient peoples already in the phases preceding the Greek and Roman eras. Starting from this consideration, it is easy to understand how the Salento area has been over time first a landing place and then a home for many peoples during their historical adventure, but what our adventurous predecessors left as a testimony of their life and struggle for the conquest of one's own identity? There is still much to see and for convenience and ease of reading we will tell you about it in two different posts on this blog: this one, dedicated to the Salento archeology of the hinterland and the next which will be dedicated to the archeology of the Salento coast.
The first appointment is on what is geographically defined as the "Messapian threshold", that is the splendid town of Ostuni, considered the northern limit of the Salento peninsula. The local Museum of Preclassical Civilizations houses the remains of Delia, also known as "the Woman of Ostuni", a hominid whose remains were discovered in October 1991 by the palethnologist Donato Coppola, in a cave at the local archaeological park. The remains date back to about 24,000 years ago, but the importance of Delia is given by the fact that together with it, or rather in her womb, the remains of a fetus in the terminal phase were also found, and therefore Delia is still today the oldest mother of which history has direct knowledge.
The journey continues "in the feminine" with the Venus of Parabita, two statuettes from the prehistoric era, found in 1965 by the team of prof. Giuseppe Piscopo at the local Grotta delle Veneri, which represent two pregnant women hugging each other: this type of works of art are called Paleolithic venus. The statuettes are carved from horse bone and have an age of 12,000-14,000 years. They are kept at the MARTA (National Archaeological Museum of Taranto).
Going up the thread of Salento history it is necessary to face the Messapian period. The Messapi were a population that in the classical era occupied a large part of the Salento peninsula since their arrival, dated around 700 BC. until the Roman conquest of the whole Salento area which took place around 260 BC. Their origin is uncertain, but the most plausible hypotheses consider them a union between the Illyrian and Cretan people, who met in the Salento area during their explorations towards the West. Speaking of the Messapi, if you want to know more about their history, it is essential to take a walk in the "Parco dei Guerrieri", a site brought to light in 1981 after the works by the University of Salento, in collaboration with the Ecole Francaise of Rome. The park today looks like an open-air archaeological area of about 20 hectares, distributed over an even larger area that goes from the town of Vaste to the Serre di Poggiardo, the natural hills on which the first Messapi settlements were born in Salento. Recent excavations have brought to light the remains of what must have been one of the most important cities of the Messapia; the path of the ancient walls, the foundations of the city and therefore of the huts that stood there and of which a faithful reproduction can be observed right at the Park has been recovered. Countless tombs still intact have also been unearthed, with all the funerary equipment and the remains of a pagan temple.
The Romans arrive in 260 BC. as we have seen, and this time the city of Lecce flourishes, with the Latin name of Lupiae, passing from a simple military station to a real "municipium", experiencing a period of absolute splendor that coincides with that of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, period in which it was enriched with the construction of a theater and an amphitheater and connected to Porto Adriano (today San Cataldo).
In the Middle Ages, the nerve center of the Salento area moved to Otranto, which remained so until the brief Ottoman conquest in 1480 and immediately ended the following year. Despite the brevity of the Turkish occupation, the event remains central to the identity of the town of Hydruntina, as evidenced by the impressive relics of the Martyrs of Otranto, which can still be seen today at the local Basilica of the Annunziata.