Oria was known as Hyria in classical times and was a Roman colony, when - as legends tell - St. Peter passed through here, preached the Gospel and consecrated the first bishop.

After the fall of the Roman Empire Oria shared the fate of all towns in Southern Italy. Looted by Langobards and Ostrogoths. In 880 it fell into Byzantine hands, in 924 the Saracens set the city on fire and in 977 and was completely destroyed by Saracen troops. Norman Humphrey of Hauteville ("Unfredo di Altavilla") conquered Oria in 1062.

Oria had one of the oldest Jewish communities in Europe. Jewish scholarship in Oria included the study of philosophy, the Talmud, languages such as Greek and Latin, and medicine and natural sciences.

The small church dedicated to San Biagio was erected within the 18th century directly on the wall, that once protected the town.