At last we reach Italy once more. Otranto was the second-largest Italian port on the Adriatic (very much behind Venice), and easily the largest on this side of southern Italy. It was a common point of landfall for those pilgrims desirous of including Rome on their journey. It might seem to make more sense to sail around to Naples or even to Ostia (the port of Rome), but most medieval people would far rather travel by land than by sea. After so many weeks at sea, that's the opinion of everyone in our party.
Otranto was the place where Frederick II assembled his army for the Sixth Crusade. After our pilgrimage period, but worth mentioning, Otranto is where a Turkish fleet landed in 1480 to invade Italy and conquer Rome. They killed thousands of the locals, including the bishop, who was sawn in half. But the force was too small and was soon driven out. It was the last Muslim invasion of Italy.