Otranto: Coastal Charm of Puglia - Family Vacation with Kids in Italy

in GEMS18 days ago

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Hello friends. In today’s post I want to talk about our visit to Otranto, a coastal town in the province of Lecce. It’s an important tourist destination known for its historical structures, castle and natural beauty. The Otranto Cathedral and its mosaics, in particular are must-sees.

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We started our mornings at our accommodation in Italy with a traditional breakfast. I’ve shared this recipe a few times before. I blend oats, protein powder, fruit and blueberries together. Then I add plain Greek yogurt, a bit of almond milk and some seeds. It rests overnight and it’s ready to eat in the morning.

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During our Italy vacation, we usually swam in the mornings, went back home for a nap and then headed out for another swim in the evening. The kids were having so much fun. My younger daughter swims very well now and can get into the water on her own.

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We used an app to find parking spots. It’s called Easy park and is available only in Italy and Europe. Thanks to this app, we could find parking spaces and make payments. If the parking meter wasn’t working, we could easily pay through the app. It’s really convenient. If you don’t have coins, you can also pay for parking via the app. And it allows you to see which parking areas are available and which are full.

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The beach we frequented was a free one called Liber. You bring your own stuff, but you can rent sun loungers if you like. We didn’t use them, though. By the way, the water was very clean and clear. There’s also a shopping center nearby that sells nice clothes and you can even pay with a Visa card. Everything was going smoothly and the kids were having a blast in the water every morning. At one point, we ventured into deeper waters and saw fish and stingrays. My older daughter wore armbands, but the younger one fearlessly jumped into the water. I’m scared of deep water, so I swim until it turns dark blue. Once it gets too dark, I head back. I have a fear of the dark, but the water was really beautiful, crystal clear and blue.

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After the beach, we went to the city center of Otranto and decided to explore like tourists. The city is built on cliffs and is absolutely stunning. The temperature was 30°C but felt like 40°C under the sun. It was scorching.

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We passed by the Aragonese Castle, an impressive structure from the 15th century. Today it serves as a museum. Inside you can find historical artifacts, exhibitions and information about the castle’s history. Plus it offers breathtaking views of Otranto and the Adriatic Sea.

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The city has many old buildings and streets. Life continues in the old neighborhood, which is full of tourist attractions and streets lined with shops.

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There’s also a very old cathedral here, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Annunziata. The interior is stunning, adorned with mosaics, but it only opens at 3 pm. While walking through the city, be careful of the streets. They’re very slippery as the stones shine and can be slippery in the rain. Nevertheless, the city is very clean and beautiful.

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My daughters and I love this city so much. Wandering through the narrow streets is incredibly fun. We even came across an old ship, which was quite fascinating. Later we headed to the seaside, where the sea breeze was delightful and there was a refreshing cool wind.

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There are also many yachts and boats here. The city looks stunning perched on the cliffs and as you approach, it offers a spectacular view from afar.

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We went into a restaurant and the prices were very reasonable. Not overly expensive at all. However, since it was lunchtime, the menu was pretty limited. there was no pizza or pasta. Still, we decided to grab something to eat and treat ourselves to dessert. We had pistachio and coconut-flavored sweets, which were delicious. Afterward we strolled through the park. Seeing the city at sunset was a beautiful experience. The white stone-paved streets looked amazing.

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We also stopped by a shopping center and got some nice things. I bought new sneakers because my old ones were too small. We picked up a few more items and the kids did some shopping too. My daughter's favorite part was seeing all the different toys and sweets in the store. There were some toy cars she absolutely loved.
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After shopping we returned to our place. For dinner we made pasta and nuggets. Then, we enjoyed the beautiful evening view. That’s all for today. See you in my next post.

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