On my way from Lecce to Matino I also stopped in Otranto, a harbour town in the east of the Salento. About 5 kilometers away from Otranto a lighthouse “Faro della Palascìa” marks the most easterly point of the Italian mainland. Beside the little harbour and lovely old city there is (of course) a castle as the city was already an important port even in the roman times.
On March 28th 1997 an Albanian boat filled with refugees sank after a collision with an Italian naval vessel and at least 57 Albanians drowned. Greek artist Costas Varotsos transformed parts of the sunken ship to this monument in the harbour of Otranto.
Almost 3000 people drowned in 2016 on their way to Europe – please support the work of private vessels like the Sea Watch saving hundreds of lifes every day! #safepassages
