Lecce is often nicknamed Florence of the South due to a large number of stunning historic buildings and its location in the Dog Dog Leg area of Italy.
This city is tucked away in the southernmost regions of Italy directly opposite Albania on the Adriatic Sea and has a current population of approximately 94,000. Lecce Stone is one of the city’s major exports and indeed this stone has been used to create most of the cities monuments due to its soft and workable nature. Lecce has an extensive history and has been inhabited since the times of Emperor Hadrian and the Roman Empire. In subsequent history, the city was conquered by a myriad of empires including the Saracens, Lombards, Slavs, and Ostrogoths. Today Lecce is a popular tourist destination and is seeing a surge in popularity as people recognize its fantastic potential.
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1. 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. Created in the 17th century, this church is created from the unique Lecce stone that gives the structure its light cream coloration.
The front façade is truly breath-taking and the amount of decoration and artwork is quite astounding. The walls are packed full of intricate sculptures, gorgeous rose windows, and interesting stone statues.
The interior, in contrast, is not as opulent but still features some beautiful stonework and religious decoration.
2. 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. Constructed in the late 17th century, this cathedral also features a Baroque design similar to the basilica and has an opulent northern façade and a beautiful bell tower.
The northern façade contains some magnificent stone statues and sculptures and faces the charming cathedral square.
In contrast to the Basilica di Santa Croce, the interior of the Cathedral is highly decorative and features a myriad of gold artwork, opulent arches and a ceiling that contains some gorgeous historical artwork.
Furthermore, there are also twelve chapels within the church, each of which is dedicated to a different saint or religious figure.
3. 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 center of the historic old town of Lecce and has some gorgeous monuments and religious structures.
Two notable buildings include the baroque Lecce Cathedral with its intricate north facade and luxurious library building that looks like a palace.
Most of the structures are created in Lecce stone and this really is an impressive square.
Moreover, the surrounding streets have a variety of shops and restaurants for those who want to enjoy a delicious meal or a bit of retail therapy.
4. 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. Notable structures include the Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Graize, the Roman Amphitheatre, and the gorgeous Palazzo del Sedile.
Il Sedile is possibly the most noticeable structure and features a huge glass doorway framed by some intricate stonework. The whole immediate area surrounding the square is a pleasant place to walk through and the adjacent streets are perfect to explore in the beautiful Italian weather.
5. Roman Amphitheatre
You can find this ancient structure in the southern part of the Piazza Sant’Oronzo. This amphitheater was not unearthed until 1929 but it was built in the second century AD and had a capacity of 25,000. Today you can join the theater and see the rest of this impressive structure.
Much of the stairs, seating, external walls and columns still stand in a fantastic condition and you can really gain a great sense of the magnificence of this arena.
6. Lecce Castello
The castle of Charles V is the main defensive fortification in the city and has stood for hundreds of years since the 16th century. During the reign of Charles V the castle was reinforced and strengthened and molded into the design and style you can see today.
A typical four-cornered defensive structure was used with diagonal guard towers and high walls. Today the castle stands in a fantastic condition and much of the walls and towers are intact.
Besides walking on campus, there is an interesting Papier-Mache Museum and seasonal exhibits containing beautiful works of art or historical exhibits.
7. Faggiano Museum
Another fantastic museum in the center of Lecce, the Faggiano Museum is a private structure that has been excavated over a course of 7 years – underneath the foundations of this building, there are some fantastic archaeological finds dating back as far as 2000 years ago.
During the course of the excavations, the house has been found to have served as a Templar home, a granary, and a burial site. You can now explore the excavations and find the various artifacts and structural remains of these ancient sites.
Over 5000 archaeological finds are packed into this infinitely interesting museum and Luciano and his sons have turned the Faggiano Museum into something truly special.
8. Porta Napoli
As with many historical cities in Italy, Lecce once had an impressive defensive network and encircling the city wall. Porta Napoli is a monument from this defensive network and one of the remaining three city gates.
Originally constructed in 1548 in honor of King Charles V, the portal features a Baroque design and is made from white Lecce stone. The center of the archway features four ornate columns and is topped with a triangular pediment that features the insignia of Charles V and Lecce.
This monumental gateway is a fantastic piece of history and definitely worth a visit when walking through the city center.
9. Villa Comunale di Lecce
This is the most impressive public garden in Lecce and is a great place to walk through and relax on a fine summer’s day. Located in the center of Lecce, this open public space has four entrances and was constructed in the 19th century.
In the center of the park is a large bandstand surrounded by some ornate stonework. Furthermore, there is a series of grid-like paths lined with some fantastic trees, bushes, and flowers.
In addition, there are several interesting fountains and ponds, along with a range of statues and monuments for various important Italian figures.
10. Visit the town of Otranto
Lecce is located on the dog leg of Italy and is in close proximity to several beautiful coastal towns. Otranto is just a 40 minutes’ drive to the southeast of Lecce and is a great place to visit for a day trip.
The main feature of this delightful coastal town is the Aragonese Castle that was constructed in the 15th century. The walls of this castle provide great views of the town and the ocean and contain a lot of history.
Furthermore, the harbor of Otranto is picturesque and a great place to admire the fishing boats. Finally, there's a great beach inviting perfect for sunbathing and boating at sea.
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