Otranto hosts light event to honor 1480 martyrs

The city of Otranto is hosting ‘Otranto in Luce – La Pietra racconta la storia, la luce la rivela’, an event running until September 27 that combines history, art, and technology. Located on the Lungomare degli Eroi, the initiative pays tribute to the 813 martyrs of 1480, who resisted Ottoman rule and defended their Christian identity.

Using videomapping, light displays, and soundscapes, the project aims to transform the city's locations into an immersive narrative. Alfredo Mantovano, Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, noted that the martyrs' resistance prevented a potential fall of Rome. Vincenzo Sofo, Advisor to the Minister for Cultural Diplomacy, stated the goal is to use Otranto as a model for utilizing both material and immaterial cultural heritage to drive regional development.