Until 1927 Terra d'Otranto included the territory of the still existing provinces of Lecce, Brindisi and Taranto. It represented an administrative and political centre ruled by the city of Lecce and under the control of the Reign of Naples.
Today the name Terra d'Otranto refers to the geographical area in the south of Lecce, the Southern end of Apulia, a uniform area as regards landscape, history, folk traditions, handicraft and gastronomy. It is also called Salento, from the name of the people (Sallentini) who inhabited here in the ancient times, as witnessed by the Classical Age fonts