If you are looking for something different, and wish to experience a less well-known part of Italy, Lecce is an amazing place to visit and it is considered one of the best towns to visit in Puglia.
Lecce has been called the ‘Florence of the baroque’, more than 40 churches and at least as many noble palazzi were built or renovated here between the middle of the 17th century and the end of the 18th to create one of the most unique landscapes in Italy.

You’ll adore the narrow streets lined with buildings and homes made from the region’s honey-coloured limestone..It is a relaxed place; the locals sit outside bars such as Pasticceria Alvino in piazza Sant’Oronzo, sipping iced coffee with almond syrup ,or they window-shop along corso Vittorio Emanuele.

Lecce has an extensive history and has been inhabited since the times of Emperor Hadrian and the Roman Empire. As you explore, you’ll inevitably stumble upon Lecce’s history and opulent architecture. The city, is one of the best towns to visit in Puglia and it is full of masterpieces of Roman, Medieval and Renaissance age, but above all, Lecce is a Baroque city.

Here the baroque is expressed in a unique way. Everywhere you walk in the city, you can look up to see delicate figures-angels, human faces, animals, plants, and fanciful curlicues-supporting balconies, surrounding doorways and windows, and decorating the capitals of columns.

In the city center you can admire beautiful examples of the stonework in monumental churches, balconies and terraces. At the heart of the historic city is the Piazza Duomo, a beautiful square surrounded by some of Lecce’s most important buildings.

The 17th century Bishop’s Palace is a beautiful building whose facade includes arches, stone balconies, statues and carvings. Next to it, the Duomo (cathedral) was built by Giuseppe Zimbalo. It has two main entrances, a restrained, elegant entrance on the north side and a magnificent Baroque entrance from the square.

Lecce’s other main sight is the Santa Croce church. This was built over several centuries. It is the most decorated of all the highly decorated Baroque buildings of Lecce and its facade includes animals, monsters, vegetables and a large rose window.

Nearby is the Piazza Sant’ Oronzo, a square with an unusual mix of styles: a Roman Amphitheatre sits on one corner of the square and is used for open-air concerts in the summer.
Where else can you get an iced espresso with almond milk, Lecce’s speciality coffee drink, while looking out of ancient Roman history?

The most beautiful thing about Lecce is the pleasure of walking through its centre, stopping at the bars, and always meeting lots of people in the street (apart from during the hottest hours of the day in summer). Lecce still abides by the time-old tradition of the afternoon siesta.

Shops and restaurants close between the hours of 2:00pm and 5:00pm, leaving the city centre eerily quiet. However, in the early evening, everything re-opens and locals emerge back onto the streets. The evening stroll commences around 6:00pm. Groups of friends and multi-generational families venture together into the winding lanes of Old Town Lecce for a leisurely walk before dinner.

Lecce shopping takes place in the evening, too. Businesses re-open their doors for the evening crowds. Boutique shops, art galleries and the corner market all have evening hours for shopping in Lecce, Italy.

Via Vittorio Emanuele is the main street lined with shops and cafes that runs between Piazza del Duomo and Piazza Sant’Oronzo. Look out for the workshops producing and selling cartapesta. For more than 200 years Lecce has been famous for these handcrafted papers-mâché figures, which were originally commissioned by the church.

Today you can find souvenir masks and models of both saints and sinners in the numerous, small artisan shops in between the architectural marvels of the old city. And there’s a Cartapesta museum to visit, if you’ve got time to learn more about the craft.

Did you know? A few kilometres south of Lecce is Grecia Salentina, a group of towns with nice historic centres where a Greek dialect is still used.

Lecce Travel Tips: Things to know before you go!

• Although Lecce’s city centre is small enough for walking, taking the tourist train will give you more information about the history of the town in a fun way. You will pass the post important sights, so it will be easier for you to explore by yourself afterward. The train leaves every hour from Castello Carlo V from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Try to visit Piazza del Duomo at night. All the lights give the place a magical vibe. The baroque style buildings from around the square make you feel that you have travelled in time.
• Taste the exquisite Pasticciotto Leccese: This is the typical sweet treat of Lecce. You can find it in bakeries, cafés, restaurants and hotel breakfasts all across Salento.The Pasticcioto leccese is a mouth watering short-crust pastry filled with custard. The latter is either plain or comes in a variety of flavours, such as pistachio, almond or even Nutella. Try to eat it while it’s still warm and you can thank us later.
• Last but not least, from Lecce you can reach some of the best towns to visit in Puglia: Monopoli, Gallipoli, Otranto, Leuca, the list is endless. The region is abundant in picture-perfect seaside towns, some of which are laid-back and quiet while others are super touristy and crowded. Yet they all share one thing in common: they are undeniably charming. This is why we encourage you to spend at least one week exploring Salento rather than just travel all the way to Lecce for a couple of days or so.

The best time to visit Puglia

The best time to visit Puglia is during the spring, early summer and autumn. High summer, July and August, is hot, reaching the 38°Cs inland, and it’s busy, too, with inflated prices to match demand. May, June and September are lovely, with temperatures in the 26°Cs, and good for walking and cycling.