Lecce
Lecce is known as the Florence of the South.
The itinerary usually begins at Porta Napoli, one of the three gates to the ancient city of Lecce.
In the city you can admire the cathedral, the bishop’s palace, the seminary and the very tall bell tower that once also served as a watchtower before arriving at Piazza Sant’Oronzo also known as the ‘merchants’ square’. At its centre is the mosaic of the She-wolf (symbol of the city). In the vicinity of the square are all the most important monuments such as the Roman Amphitheatre, the Roman Theatre, the elliptical Church of San Matteo, the Church of Santa Chiara, with its ceiling entirely made of papier-mâché, and the Carlo V Castle. But the greatest example of Lecce Baroque is certainly the Basilica of Santa Croce.
Gourmet routes
Our idea is to combine an itinerary of your choice with the chance to sample some of the area’s gastronomic excellence through our original Percorsi Golosi and Eno Percorsi.
Typical products of Lecce and province: Terre d’Otranto DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Salice Salentino DOC wine, ‘zzucarrina’ potato.
Traditional dishes from Lecce: rustico, puccia with black olives, potato focaccia, horse meat with sauce, sagne ‘ncannulate (typical pasta). Desserts include pasticciotto (a cream cake), mustazzoli (biscuits made with almonds, cocoa and other flavourings) and Lecce cotognata (quince jam).