Former Capuchin Convent

At present, the convent is in ruins but still recognizable, as several portions of the masonry remain. The convent was built at the end of the 16th century (1594) at the request of the local community, as was customary at that time to support the presence of the Capuchin friars in the city.

It is located in the “Punta” area outside the city walls, between Via Cappuccini and Viale Aldo Moro.

Of the convent, only the ground-floor rooms and a small portion of the first-floor roofing have been preserved. The church followed a single-nave layout, with the presbytery area emphasized by a triumphal arch and presumably covered by a barrel vault.
What remains standing is the left side of the nave, where traces of the original Baroque-style decorations are still visible.
The space was articulated by large round arches, above which were molded cornices and quadrilobed decorative motifs. The openings in the nave façade lead to corresponding square side rooms, also covered by barrel vaults.

Starting in the 1990s and 2000s, consolidation and restoration works were undertaken to preserve what remains of the structure. These included foundation reinforcement, cleaning of the masonry, new paving, and urban furnishings in the surrounding outdoor areas.

After the consolidation and restoration works, the site was occasionally used for cultural activities, such as an attempt to establish a museum dedicated to the memory and work of the great actor and artist Carmelo Bene, with exhibition spaces devoted to his artistic, literary, and cinematic production between 2014 and 2016. Dopo il consolidamento / restauro Museo è stato utilizzato occasionalmente per delle attività culturali come per esempio il tentativo di utilizzarlo come museo dedicato alla memoria e all’opera del grande attore e artista Carmelo Bene, con spazi espositivi per la sua produzione artistica, letteraria e cinematografica negli anni tra il 2014 e il 2016. Even in recent times, for example during both the summer and Christmas periods, the area has hosted local events and initiatives, such as the construction of the Nativity scene, often organized in collaboration between the Pro Loco and other local cultural associations.

According to available historical sources, the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin left the convent in 1866. In that year, the Royal Decree suppressing religious orders in Italy led to the closure of many convents and monasteries and to the confiscation of ecclesiastical property by the State; the convent of Otranto was also affected and, since then, has no longer housed a resident community of Capuchin friars. From that moment on, after 1866, the convent lost its religious function and, having been acquired by the State, gradually fell into a state of decay.
Today, as already mentioned, it is the subject of consolidation and restoration works, with projects aimed at transforming it into a cultural and museum space for the city of Otranto. Attualmente, come già detto è oggetto di interventi di consolidamento e restauro con progetti per diventare spazio culturale e museale nella città di Otranto.