GET READY TO LIVE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

Surrounded by the beautiful Adriatic and Ionian seas, Lecce – also known as “Florence of the South” – is one of the most interesting cities in Puglia for its beautiful seventeenth-century architecture which overlaps and amalgamates the far more remote Messapian vestiges (including the ancient archaeological park of Rudiae, dating back to the 9th-8th century BC) and Romanesque (including the Amphitheater and the Theater dating back to the 2nd century BC)

LECCESE/S BAROQUES

But what makes Lecce a unique city is its unmistakable Baroque style, better known as “Barocco Leccese”. With the skillful processing of the tender local stone, the so-called “Pietra Leccese”, the architecture of beauty and elegance that is more unique than rare has been created.

Among the symbols that represent the quintessential Baroque art of Lecce are Santa Croce Basilique, San Matteo Church, Santa Maria Delle Grazie Church in Sant’Oronzo Square, to the beautiful and majestic Piazza del Duomo, composed of the Cathedral, the seventy meters high Bell Tower, the Bishopric of the seventeenth century and the former Seminary. Other outstanding examples of Lecce stone processing have been preserved, however, not only in the churches and main monuments but throughout the historic center which is a true open-air museum. Walking through the streets of the city you can’t help but be enchanted by the richness and splendor of the private homes, decorated with gorgeous ornaments still visible today in their entirety. Lecce is a true “candy” just for being small but at the same time refined, elegant, cozy, and unforgettable.

THE SEA

Over 150 kilometers of wonderful and renowned sandy and rocky coasts and crystal clear waters, awarded by numerous “blue flags”, await lovers of the sea and those who wish to visit the most beautiful seaside resorts in Italy. From the Adriatic to the Ionic Coast, you cannot remain indifferent to the disarming beauty of places like Gallipoli (the “Pearl of the Ionian Sea”), Otranto (the easternmost point of Italy), Porto Cesareo, Torre San Giovanni, and Santa Maria di Leuca (southernmost point of Italy and all of Europe and the conjunction between the two seas of Puglia). How not to be enchanted, between Otranto and Gallipoli, by the suggestive natural cavities such as the Zinzulusa Cave, rich in stalactites and stalagmites, Grotta Grande del Ciolo, Grotta dei Cervi in Porto Badisco, landing place of Aeneas, and the caves of the Natural Park of Porto Selvaggio, created in the limestone of the cliffs by the force of the winds and the sea.

NIGHTLIFE & SHOPPING

However, Lecce is not only art and history. Lecce is a lively, cultured, cheerful city, by day and night, in which it is pleasant to walk and shop and where, thanks to the constantly mild climate, you will find numerous evening entertainment for adults (music, theatre, restaurants) and young people, real stars of a joyful and at the same time respectful nightlife.

The city center is, in fact, full of nightspots with seats inside and outside where you can spend pleasant hours of relaxation and fun. Enjoy a good glass of wine while listening to live music, or immerse yourself in the nightlife.

NIGHTSPOTS

FESTIVALS

What characterizes Salento throughout the whole year is the festivals: folks festivals where you will attend unmissable dancing and singing performances, and you will eat the most traditional dishes of Salento history. One of the most popular events is the “Notte della Taranta”, famous all over the world, which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from every nation and culture each year.

TYPICAL DISHES

Furthermore, anyone who has visited Lecce has never been disappointed by its excellent local cuisine. There are many typical dishes of our tradition, flavored with the addition of spices of Mediterranean vegetation such as rosemary, oregano, mint, sage, thyme, and maggiorana. You can’t miss:

Ciceri e tria: this is the quintessential dish of Salento. Consisting of pasta and chickpeas, in which a portion of pasta is cooked traditionally, while the remaining part is fried in boiling oil;
Sagne ‘ncannulate, also know as “Sagne torte”, are twisted tagliatelle, seasoned with tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, and fresh basil leaves;
Horse chunks with tomato sauce;
Polpo alla pignata: a delicious octopus dish, called in this way because we use to prepare it “la pignata”, a terracotta pot used in ancient times to cook those products that require many hours of cooking over the fireplace.

In addition, we recommend you to try the other specialties of our culinary tradition:

Rustico Leccese: puff pastry filled with bechamel, tomato, mozzarella, and pepper;
Fried or baked Calzone;

But most of all:

Pasticciotto Leccese: the most loved dessert by our people, consisting of a tender shortcrust pastry filled with lemon custard.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

This and much more is what makes Lecce one of the most popular tourist destinations by travelers from Italy, Europe, and the whole world (Lecce has won the sixth position in the world ranking drawn up on Trivago) who numerous flock here to visit the beauties that the baroque city offers.

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