Basilica of San Pietro

Splendid 8th-century chapel in the heart of Otranto, the Church of San Pietro is one of the most important monuments in Southern Italy, a masterful example of Greco-Byzantine art.\n\nThe contrast between the particularly linear exterior and the richly decorated interior is striking: the plain facade accentuates the richness and atmosphere of the interior spaces, which have a Greek cross plan with three semicircular apses and eight columns, four of which support the central monolithic dome.\n\nOriginally equipped with a side door and a 17th-century altar, today the church’s focal point is the three-apsed edicule of San Pietro, where there are two altars, one dedicated to San Pietro and dating back to 1481.\n\nThe frescoes, which cover almost the entire interior surface, especially on the barrel vault of the northwest nave, where The Last Supper and The Washing of the Feet are prominently displayed, and The Baptism of Christ in the south arm, captivate and envelop at first glance.