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Lecce (/ ˈlɛtʃeɪ /; [5] Italian: [ˈlettʃe] ⓘ) [Lang 1] is a city in southern Italy and former capital of the province of Lecce, with the second-highest population in the Apulia region. It is on the Salentine Peninsula, at the heel of the Italian Peninsula, and is over two thousand years old.
- Contents
- Best Things to Do in Lecce, Italy
- Day Trips from Lecce
- Best Beaches Near Lecce
- Where to Eat in Lecce
- Where to Stay in Lecce
- Lecce Shopping
- Where to Run in Lecce
- How to Get to Lecce, Italy
- The Best Time of Year to Visit Lecce
1) Wander Lecce’s Historic Centre
The heart of Lecce is where you’ll spend most of your time. Traffic is limited in the centre so it’s a pleasure to wander. Despite the historic centre’s small size, we always found a new hidden corner on our daily walks. Lecce has grown in popularity since our last visit five years ago, and the tour groups have arrived, but it’s nothing compared to the crowds of Florence or Rome. All you have to do is head down a side street to find a quiet spot to yourself. If you’d prefer to explore with a...
2) See the Roman Amphitheatre in Piazza Sant’Oronzo
A good starting point for your Lecce explorations is the city’s main square, Piazza Sant’Oronzo. I recommend picking up a Lecce sightseeing map from the tourist office here. You can also see our Lecce map below featuring all our favourite places. The highlight is the large Roman amphitheatre which once seated 14,000 spectators on its two tiers, although only the lower tier remains. Sometimes concerts still take place here. In the piazza, you can also see the column of Sant’Oronzo and an unusu...
3) Visit Lecce Cathedral
Lecce’s Cathedral is on one of the most beautiful squares in Lecce, the Piazza del Duomo. Unlike Piazza Sant’Oronzo, which is bustling with cafes and shops, the Piazza del Duomo has a more intimate feel and is enclosed by ornate buildings including the bishop’s residence and seminary. The Cathedral was originally built in 1144 and was rebuilt in the 17th century by architect Giuseppe Zimbalo in the decorative baroque style that now characterises the city. It’s also worth seeing the Duomo lit...
Lecce is the ideal base for exploring the Salento region as it’s located between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas so you can reach all of the peninsula’s sights within 30–60 minutes. In just over an hour you can also visit the gorgeous towns of the Valle d’Itria further north, but I prefer to stay in that area for part of my time in Puglia. See our det...
The nearest beach to Lecce is San Cataldoon the Adriatic Coast, which is a 20-minute drive and has a free section and lidos (beach clubs) with umbrella/sun lounger rentals. A better option, though, is to head west to the Ionian Coast. Nearest to Lecce are the string of beaches north of Porto Cesareo including Torre Lapillo and Punta Prosciuttowith ...
The food is a highlight of a trip to Lecce—morning pastries with iced almond milk coffee, a puff pastry rustico for lunch, evening aperitivo snacks, and multi-course dinners of generous vegetable antipasti and hearty plates of pasta. Top it all off with a gelato and a stroll along the beautifully lit streets. Puglia is our favourite Italian region ...
I recommend staying within the historic centre if possible as it’s much more attractive than the modern part of town. That said, if you have a car it will be easier to find parking outside the centre (where traffic is restricted).
Clothes and Souvenirs We’re not into shopping, but Lecce does have lots of cute looking independent clothing, jewellery, and craft stalls. Good streets to browse are Via Palmieri and Via Vittorio Emanuele II. For chain clothing and lingerie stores head out of the centre from the main piazza along Via Salvatore Trinchese. Unlike most of the small sh...
It’s best to run as early as possible to beat the heat and to avoid the crowds when running through the centre. The small park Villa Comunale close to the centre would be good for laps, but it doesn’t open until 9 am so was no good for me. For short runs I headed instead to the Parco di Belloluogo next to the cemetery (leave the old city from Porta...
By Train You can reach Lecce easily by direct Trenitalia train from cities such as Brindisi (30 minutes), Bari (1.5 hours), Rome (5.5 hours), and Bologna(7 hours). From Naples you’ll have to change trains at Caserta (5.5 hours total). You can check timetables and book tickets in advance for the best rates from the Trenitalia website. You need to us...
We have visited Lecce in April, May, June and September and the weather was hot and sunny most of the time. The summer months July and August are very hot and crowded and it’s best to avoid visiting then if possible. June and September have reliable weather and are the best times to enjoy the beaches without huge crowds. In April-May it was sunny m...
- Basilica di Santa Croce. It seems that hallucinating stonemasons have been at work on the basilica. Sheep, dodos, cherubs and beasties writhe across the facade, a swirling…
- Museo Faggiano. Descend through Lecce's rich historical strata in this fascinating home-turned-museum, where sewerage excavations led to the chance discovery of an…
- Cathedral. Giuseppe Zimbalo's 1659 reconstruction of Lecce's original 12th-century cathedral is recognised as being among his finest work. Zimbalo, Lecce's famous…
- Museo Ebraico. This fascinating museum outlines the Jewish history of Lecce and the greater Salento region. Entry is by 30-minute guided tour only, running every 45…
- Visit the Porta San Biagio. I kicked things off at Porta San Biagio. We basically just parked in front, and there it was: this gate that’s straight out of a storybook, slapped with Ferdinand of Bourbon's coat of arms, and oozing old-world charm.
- Check out Centro Storico (Historic Center) The historic center of Lecce is a captivating fusion of history, culture, food and craftsmanship. Every time you look up you'll be amazed, by the beauty of the buildings and monuments.
- Explore the Musa - Museo Storico Archeologico. I visited the Musa Historical Archaeological Museum in Lecce, Italy. This place immerses you in Salentos past.
- Make a pilgrimage to Basilica di Santa Croce. The Basilica di Santa Croce is considered the epitome of Lecce's Baroque architecture. Its façade, more than being a decorative front, tells stories of faith and the history of Catholicism dating back to the late 16th century.
- Basilica di Santa Croce. This is one of the most beautiful churches in Lecce and is renowned for its amazing architecture and stunning Baroque façade.
- Cattedrale dell’Assunzione della Virgine. Located in the Piazza del Duomo, Lecce cathedral is on par with the Basilica di Santa Croce as the most important religious buildings in the city.
- Piazza del Duomo. Lecce has several beautiful squares that feature some gorgeous architecture and the Piazza del Duomo is one of the most charming. This square is located in the centre of the historic old town of Lecce and has some gorgeous monuments and religious structures.
- Piazza Sant’Oronzo. A short distance further to the east from the Cathedral is the Piazza Sant’Oronzo; this is another beautiful open square with some interesting architecture and fantastic sites.
A baroque jewel in Italy’s southeastern heel, Lecce flourishes with the carved sandstone of its cathedrals and piazzas. Atmosphere and cuisine are the main attractions here, with rustic Apulian cuisine on offer at the countless wine bars and cafes spilling onto the city's cobblestone lanes.
Also known as the Florence of the South, Lecce is among the not-to-be-missed destinations when visiting Apulia. The white stones of Lecce, the historical wonders, the elegance of its Baroque architecture will make your next 48 hours unforgettable.
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