Oria is the epitome of Puglia’s Salento hilltop allure, a little town nestled between the cities of Brindisi, Taranto and Lecce, on the highest hills of a cordon of ancient fossil dunes.
A medieval re-enactment in historical costumes
Famous for its gleaming whitewashed houses with colorful window boxes, maze of narrow cobbled streets, Rococo cathedral, majestic castle and its historical Jewish quarter, the hilltop town’s medieval origins are spotlighted every year with the August Torneo dei Rioni (Tournament of the Wards) re-enactment. Representing the four town districts that compete for victory, it is centered around the figure of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, the builder of the castle. During this tournament athletes and knights from the city's four districts, dressed in historical costumes, challenge one another in medieval-style trials and challenges requiring great skill, speed and dexterity.
The Little St. Peter’s and an archeological museum
The Basilica Cathedral has a handsome Baroque façade and draws so heavily on the architecture of St. Peter’s in Rome that it is known as the Little St. Peter’s. The majestic Castle of Oria, also built by Frederick II is a national monument, and the nearby Montalbano Park has ponds, lakes and stairways leading to a panoramic walk that connects the castle’s two towers. Other places of interest worth visiting are the Crypt of Saints Crisante and Daria, the Porta degli Ebrei and Porta Manfredi gates, the Torre Palomba tower and the Jewish Ghetto. Palazzo Martini is a classic example of 18th-century Baroque architecture and houses an archaeological museum with finds from local tomb and sites.
Friendly townspeople and ancient cooking techniques
The lasting memory visitors take away with them from this hilltop town of allure is that of an alluring and lively town, snowy-white houses, ancient monuments, the smiles of the friendly and welcoming townspeople and the genuine traditional local cuisine. Like the Pignata that uses an ancient cooking technique, with beef or other meats cooked in terracotta placed over an open fire. This slow cooking allows the meat to cook gently, keeping in all its flavour while remaining juicy and tender.
For information: https://www.beautifulpuglia.com/oria/
