O'TIIANTO, TERRA DI, a province of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, occupies the whole lapygian, or Messapian peninsula, which forms the south-eastern projection, or heel, of Italy. It is bounded N.W. by the provinces of Bari and Basilicata, and by the sea on every other aide. Its greatest length is about 100 miles ; its general breadth variep from 25 to about 35 miles, but south of 40° N. lat. the width diminishes rapidly as it approaches Cape di Leuca, the extremity of the peninsula. The area of the province is 2S71 square miles; the population was estimated in 1831 at 409,000. The peninsula is traversed in its length by a ridge of low calcareous hills, which are an offset of the Apeuniues of Basilicata, and terminate in Cape Leuca. There are no rivers properly so called in this peninsula, but tho springs and draiuings of the hills on both sides form streams, most of which are absorbed by the soil or lose themselves in marshes before they reach the sea. Nearly the whole of the low tract of land along the sea coast on both sides of the peninsula is unwholesome ; but the in terior being more elevated and dry is wholesome, and produces oil in abundance, wine, corn, and pasture for cattle. The oil is of the best quality ; it is stored in large tanks excavated in the limestone rock at 'Gallipoli, from which port it is chiefly exported. The best tobacco grown in Italy is produced on the table-land above tho Cape di Leuca. Cotton is cultivated with success. Figs, almonds, carobs, oranges, lemons, and other fruits are grown. Mules are bred in great numbers.
The population is distributed among four districts, Leese, Taranto, Brindisi, and Gallipoli, which are subdivided into 180 communes. Brindisi, Otranto, and Taranto gives titles to archbishops. The pro vince is within the jurisdiction of the High Civil Court of Trani; in other respects its administrative and local governments resemble those of the other provinces of the kingdom as already explained under the head of NAPLES, Kingdom of.
The principal towns of the province of Otranto are—BRINDISI; LECCE; TARANTO; and Gallipoli. Gallipoli, a town of considerable commercial importance, is built on an insulated rock connected with the mainland by a stone-bridge of 12 arches, in about 40° 3' N. Int., 17° 57' E. long., on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Taranto. It contains, together with the suburb called Lizza, about 13,000 inhabit ants, is a bishop's see, has a good roadstead and a harbour. Gallipoli is the most trading sea-port in this part of the kingdom. It has auiple cisterns cut in the rock for containiug the oil, which is the chief produce of the country. The oil is purchased from the growers in this and the neighbouring provinces, and stored here for export. Gallipoli exports oil, wool, wine, and other products of neighbouring provinces. Besides the oil-tanks and the bridge, the most note worthy objects in the town are a fountain decorated with ancient bas-reliefs, and the castle built by Charles of Anjou. The palm grows luxuriantly about Gallipoli. Gallipoli is the ancient Callepolis. The tunny fishery employs many persons. Otranto, the ancient Hydruntum, once a flourishing town, has been long in a decaying state chiefly in consequence of malaria. The prescut population hardly exceeds 2000, and the surrounding country is marshy, unhealthy, and uncultivated. Otranto has an old cathedral, a castle, and a harbour which is not very safe. When Otranto was taken by the Turks in 1480 the city had a popula tion of 20,000, of whom 12,000 were massacred ; of the rest some were set free on paying a ransom, and the remainder sold as slaves. The Turks were driven out of the city and out of Italy the following year by the Duke of Calabria. In the cathedral (which was occupied by the Turks for a stable) are several antiquities, including some ancient mosaics. From Otranto on a clear day the opposite coast of Epirus and the lofty Acroceraunian Mountains may be seen.