Lecce is an ancient and beautiful city known as the Florence of the South because of its ornate Baroque buildings made from the pale-coloured local stone, called pietra leccese. It is one of the most important cities of Italys Apulia (Puglia) region, and also the capital of Lecce province. This lively city is buzzing with life every hour of the day. Its compact historical centre is easy to explore on foot and theres a surprise at every turn, be it a bustling market, a fabulous Baroque building, or a piece of street theatre underway on one of the citys many lovely squares.
The region of Apulia in Italys deep south is attracting more and more tourists every year because of its laid-back way of life, excellent local cuisine and beautiful white-sand beaches. Charming Lecce is definitely worth a stop… here are some of my favourite things to see and do:
1. Just a few steps away from SantOronzo square, is the half-buried Roman amphitheatre which was built in the century. It is half-buried because it is now surrounded by other monuments, but it is still used for a variety of cultural events.
2. The Chiesa di Santa Croce is another important cultural and historical landmark. It has a beautiful rose window and a richly decorated faade. Have a closer look to spot all the fabulous sculpted details of animals like lions, dragons, and horses, as well as angels, shells, birds, shells and flowers.
First built in 1144, this is an imposing cathedral with a 210-foot bell tower, one of the most important in the wholeof Italy.
3. You can see skilled local craftsmen working the local stone pietra leccese in their workshops along Via Palmieri, in the old town. Beautiful statues, jewellery, lamps and other objects skilfully crafted out of this malleable material.
4. The Botanical Garden on Via Provinciale Lecce – Monterone is maintained by the University of Lecce and covers an area of over 5 acres with several hundred species of plants, trees and flowers.
5. La “passeggiata” is a late afternoon ritual across Italy, when the heat of the day has finally subsided and locals emerge to enjoy the remaining hours of the day. In Lecce,stretches late in the evenings, giving the citys streets and squares an animated ambiance.
6. Lecce is known for its traditional handicrafts, especially the art of papier mach, known as ‘cartapesta’ in Italian, which dates back to the 17th century. There are many small shops selling paper statues, masks, dolls and toys made of this versatile material.
7. Apulia is known for its fabulous regional cuisine, and with Lecces many rustic restaurants and eateries, foodies are spoilt for choice. Try local specialties like fava beans pureed with chicory, and hand-made orecchiette (“little ears”) pasta with ‘cime di rapa’ (a type of green). Experience eating in a “norcinera”,or artisan butchers, at Il Simposio (Via Dei Veradi, 7, 8. Of course no visit to an Italian city is complete without gelato. The place to go in Lecce is Pasticceria-Gelateria Natale (Via Trinchese, 7), the citys finest and most popular ice cream and cake shop, located just off Piazza SantOronzio.Open from early morning until late into the night, this is a veritable temple of chocolate,gelatoand pastrydelights.
9. This region is also famous for its excellent wines, like Primitivo (similar to Zinfandel) and Negroamaro, a red wine grape variety grown almost exclusively in Apulia.
10. Must try: The Lecce specialty called caff in ghiaccio con latte di mandorla (espresso with ice and almond milk).
Festival del Cinema Europeo (European Cinema Festival): 13 18 April 2015.
Locomotive Jazz Festival: late July / early August.
Easter and the Holy Week; during the months of September and October.
