MABO - Museo Archivio Biblioteca dell'Arcidiocesi di Otranto

MABO brings together the museum, archive and library of the Archdiocese of Otranto in a cultural complex beside the cathedral. Its collections include sacred artworks, liturgical textiles and historic books associated with the diocese.

Why it matters

The diocesan museum was established in 1992 by Archbishop Vincenzo Franco to preserve works and liturgical furnishings from the cathedral basilica. The later MABO project unites the museum with the archdiocesan archive and library, connecting the care of objects with the documentary record of Otranto's religious history.

What to notice

The museum's holdings include Salento papier-mâché sculpture, paintings, sacred textiles and liturgical objects. Among the named works are an Andrienne associated with Santa Maria Maddalena, a San Michele Arcangelo and a Deposizione di Cristo dalla croce. The library preserves sixteenth-century editions, including a Kiriale and a Calepinus. Together, the collections reflect the artistic and scholarly life of the archdiocese.

Context and history

The diocesan museum's historic seat was restored under Monsignor Donato Negro, and the museum reopened under Bishop Francesco Neri. The institution's development into MABO expanded its remit to include the archive and library. A 2023 exhibition presented archival documents concerning the 1480 martyrdom, linking the documentary collections with the memory preserved in the cathedral.