Lecce

What to see in Lecce

The city of Baroque

Lecce is known as the “Baroque City” for the unmistakable style that characterizes this city of art, which also boasts a remarkable architectural heritage dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Here are some of the monuments to visit during a holiday in Lecce , in the Salento hinterland :

• Piazza Sant'Oronzo, dedicated to the patron saint of the city;
• the Basilica of Santa Croce;
• theAnfiteatro Romano;
• i nineteenth-century buildings of Corso Vittorio Emanuele;
• Piazza Duomo with the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary;
• il Castle Charles V.

Lecce and the Lecce Baroque

Various tours of Lecce's Baroque architecture are available, customized and in several languages. The beauty of Lecce's images makes it clear why travelers have flocked to this splendid capital since ancient times: to experience and admire the unmistakable Lecce Baroque , which emerges with extreme elegance from the façades of historic homes and majestic churches and convents , all the way to the charming, ancient streets of the historic center.

During a holiday in Lecce, you'll discover how the spread of Baroque art in Lecce stone, a malleable limestone well-suited to chiselling, reached remarkable heights throughout the city.

Here's a video where you can admire the Lecce Baroque , the beauty of Lecce's monuments , the elegance of Renaissance forms, and the richness of its decorative elements. It's not for nothing that Lecce is called the Florence of the South or the Athens of Puglia.

The most important monuments to visit in Lecce

A holiday in Lecce cannot but begin with a guided tour of the emblem of Lecce Baroque : the Basilica of Santa Croce . Its architecture is an icon of regal grandeur, highlighted by the balcony supported by allegorical figures, its splendid rose window richly framed, and numerous sculptures, capitals, and images featuring angels and cherubs, Mediterranean fruits, garlands of flowers, coats of arms, and bas-reliefs of extraordinary interest.

The basilica is flanked by the Palazzo dei Celestini , a former convent of the Celestine Fathers, whose aristocratic facade is rusticated, enriched by precious windows and baroque capitals.

Piazza S. Oronzo , dedicated to the patron saint of Lecce , is considered the beating heart of the capital's social and commercial life. The square hosts and gathers:

• the sixteenth-century seat;
• the former Renaissance church of S. Marco;
• the Roman amphitheatre;
• the votive column with the statue of the Saint;
• the city's coat of arms in mosaic depicting the holm oak with the wolf;
• a part of the nineteenth-century Palazzo Carafa.

The tour continues along Corso Vittorio Emanuele , the main street of the old town, lined with beautiful noble palaces, the Church of St. Irene , and Piazza Duomo . In this extraordinary scenic location, you can admire the imposing Baroque Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta , its tall ashlar bell tower , the elegant Bishop's Palace , two welcoming propylaea balconies, and the refined former Seminary , which houses one of the most beautiful Baroque wells in Salento.

Lecce, also known as the “City of a Hundred Churches” , is rich in numerous examples of sacred architecture and among these we highlight:

• the Church of the Rosary and the Church of Santa Teresa;
• the church of St. Anne and St. Elizabeth;
• San Matteo with its rare concave-convex facade;
• the Church of Santa Chiara and San Giuseppe.

With a walk, you can reach and visit the Charles V Castle , whose large, white internal rooms convey a great sense of wonder.

The municipality of Lecce is the capital of Salento and is particularly active in the agricultural sector (olive oil, wine) and ceramics. On the nearby Adriatic coast of Salento, we recommend combining history, art, and pleasure with a refreshing dip on the sandy beaches of the Salento peninsula.

The beaches closest to Lecce

During a holiday or tourist stay in Lecce , the Lecce marinas are easily reachable in just a few minutes by car . Here are the main ones:

• Fridges
• Casalabate
• Chianca Tower
• Rinalda Tower
• the main marina of San Cataldo.

The beautiful beaches of Otranto and Torre dell'Orso are also easy to reach during a holiday in Lecce.