Martano is a beautiful centre, built on a hill at 90 metres above sea level, of the Greek area of the Salento, where a Hellenic dialect, called "Griko", is still in use.

The urban nature of the old city centre is of the Byzantine period. Originally surrounded by fortified walls, bulks and a castle which over the centuries has often submitted refurbishments and today is a Baron's palace.

The Castle, edified in the XV century by Kings Ferdinando and Alfonso d'Aragona, to protect the city from the Turkish raids. Bolster towers, bulwarks, six bulks and a moat evidence the military purposes of the castle. Four main doors were the entrances to the castle but today there are traces of only two: the Porta Grande on the Eastern side and the Porta Piccola, on the Western side.

Not to miss: the Monastery of Santa Maria della Consolazione, built in 1866 and today home of the Cistercian monks, the Parrish Church entitled to the Madonna of the Assunta; the Church of the Madonella, The Church of the Immacolata, The Church of Maria Santissima degli Angeli.

Between the palaces and main buildings, worth of mention are: Palazzo Andrichi-Moschettini, Palazzo Pino, la Casa a Corte, Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo Micali and Palazzo Sergio.

Major monuments are: the Specchia dei Mori (an observation tower), the Garden of Knowledge, The Fountain of the Angels, the Monument entitled to the Water and the Temple entitled to the Olive tree.

In Via Teofilo arises a menhir entitled to "santu Totaru" or "del Teofilo", the highest upright standing stone in Apulia with its 4.70 metres.