Lecce

Lecce is a city in the Apulia region of Italy.

Understand

Lecce has been dubbed the Florence of the south. Whereas many people skip it in favour of the nearby beach towns of the Salento Peninsula, this city, distinguished by its elaborate style of baroque buildings, has at least a couple of days of attractions worth seeing.

Get in

Ferrovie del Sud Est trains at the railway station

Lecce is roughly 580 km (although some older measurements claim up to 640 km, depending on the route) from Rome.

By plane

• 🌍 Brindisi Airport (BDS ^IATA). It is the closest airport (35 km) and provides efficient connections through buses. (updated Jun 2018)

It is also the best way to reach the town from central and northern Europe. There are discount flights available from London, Rome, Milan, etc. For a complete list, check out the Apulian airports website.

By train

There are FS trains from Foggia, Turin, Rome, Naples, Venice and Milan. You can also reach Lecce by Eurostar Train from Bologna through Rimini and Bari. Travel times from Rome and beyond can be long. Night trains with sleeping couches are available, and often a better bet.

The trains arrive at 🌍 Lecce railway station station, 1 km from the city center. Taxis anywhere can be expensive (expect to pay up to €15 to the center, especially if you have luggage items), so you may want to check with your hotel the public transportation options available.

By car

• From Bari: at the Bari Nord exit of motorway, keep on the and reached Fasano continue on the until Brindisi, then go on the to reach Lecce.
• From Taranto: take the until Brindisi, then merge onto the towards Lecce.

The town is ringed by a freeway called Tangenziale di Lecce that you can join to bypass the city center.

By bus

These are the main private bus operator to get in the town:

• Marino (main continental Italy cities, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland)
• Marozzi (Avellino, Benevento, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Siena)
• Miccolis (Caserta, Matera, Naples, Pompeii, Salerno)

From June to September the province of Lecce manages the bus service Salentoinbus, that gives you the occasion to reach the town from the main seaside resorts of the territory.

By boat

• 🌍 Port of Brindisi, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. It is the closest port and provides ferry services to/from Corfu, Durrës, Igoumenitsa, Kefalonia, Patra, Vlorë and Zakynthos. (updated Jun 2018)

Get around

Van Hool A330T trolleybus in the modern center

By bus

Public transport is managed by SGM company, with 20 bus lines and 4 trolleybus lines. Single tickets can be purchased at most of tobacconists and newspaper sellers around the city. The cost of a single ticket is €1.00 (€1.50 if bought on board), a 90-min ticket is €1.30; a day ticket costs €2.50 while a seven-day ticket costs €9.70.

By taxi

LecceTaxi covers the town and other destinations in the Salento area.

By car

Here is a list of useful parking lots:

• 🌍 Piazza Carmelo Bene (Ex Foro Boario). It is near the Bus City Terminal with interchange to lines 29, 30, 31. €0.60/hr. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Oberdan Parking, Via G.Oberdan, 43, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 24 hr. It also provides a service of car and bike rental. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Metropark, Via di Ussano, toll-free: [phone]. 24 hr. 189 parking spaces 100 meters from the railway station. €1.00/hr. (updated Jun 2018)

By bicycle

On foot

Walking is without doubt the best way to discover the main attractions of Lecce, since the whole old town is a limited traffic zone (ZTL). This feature gives the opportunity to move between monuments, churches and archaeological sites free from the stress of traffic.

See

Churches

Holy Cross church

Lecce has more than 30 historic churches, these are the most representative ones:

• 🌍 Church of the Holy Cross (Basilica di Santa Croce), Via Umberto I, 3, ☎ [phone]. 09:00-12:00 / 17:00-20:00. It represents the main example of Lecce baroque style. It was built between 1549 and 1695, thanks to three well-known architects: Gabriele Riccardi, who devoted himself to the general plan and the lower part of the façade; Francesco Antonio Zimbalo who made the twin column porch and the portal aside; Cesare Penna who conceived the high level of the façade. The big Romanesque central rose window, the rich frame, the four columns, and the niches as well as the telamons, the imaginary creatures, the animals, the mythological and historical characters of the façade are all what makes this church unique and renowned over the world. free. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Cathedral (Duomo di Lecce), Piazza del Duomo, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A wonderful example of baroque style, most of the cathedral was designed by Giuseppe Zimbalo and it was completed in 1689. free. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Church of Saint Irene (Sant'Irene dei Teatini), Via Vittorio Emanuele II. A majestic baroque church with an elegant and quite sober exterior that hides a richly decorated interior. Free. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Church of Saint John the Baptist (Basilica di San Giovanni Battista), Via Giuseppe Libertini, 5, ☎ [phone]. A magnificent façade characterised by two grooved columns, completed in 1728. It is just few steps away from Porta Rudiae. Free. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Church of Santa Chiara, Piazzetta Vittorio Emanuele II, ☎ [phone]. Built in 1429 and renovated in 1691, its main features are the octagonal interior plan and the lavish altars. Free. (updated Jun 2018)

Archaeology

Roman amphitheatre in Piazza S.Oronzo

• 🌍 Roman amphitheatre (Anfiteatro romano), Piazza Sant'Oronzo, 42, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Situated in Sant'Oronzo square, the structure was built during the 2nd century AD and it was able to seat more than 25,000 people. It is currently used for various religious, music and art events. Adults €3.00; groups €1.50; students €1.00. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Roman theatre (Teatro romano), Via Arte della Cartapesta, 10, ☎ [phone]. In the heart of the old town, it was built in the 1st century AD and it had a capacity of 5,000 people. It is now seat of events and performances. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Rudiae archaeological park (Parco archeologico di Rudiae), Via S. Pietro in Lama. Site of an ancient messapian and then roman town, 3km south from the city center. Here you can see the remains of the amphitheatre, a necropolis and walls. (updated Jun 2018)

Other buildings

Porta Rudiae

• Piazza S. Oronzo - Situated in the heart of the city and named after the patron saint's statue erect in 1666 after the population had defeated the plague which had broken out ten years before.
• Paisiello Theatre - Once the permanent theatre of the town. Founded in 1758 and rebuilt in 1870, it was opened with the performance of Giuseppe Verdi' s 'Un ballo in maschera". Because of its rich decorations, this theatre - which can only contain 320 spectators - is nicknamed "The wedding souvenir".
• 🌍 Castle of Charles V (Castello Asburgico). A majestic medieval castle rebuilt during the first half of XVI century. It is seat of several exhibitions, events and conferences. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Triumphal Arch (Porta Napoli), Piazzetta Arco di Trionfo. It was erected in 1548 to pay homage to Charles V and thank him for having fortified the town. It is known as "Neapolitan Gate" since there started the road leading to Naples, capital of the kingdom. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Porta Rudiae. The oldest gate of the town, rebuilt in 1703 in baroque style. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Porta San Biagio, Piazza d'Italia, 8. The southern entrance to the old town, dedicated to Saint Blaise. It is 17 meters (55 ft) tall and it's topped by the coat of arms of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Park Tower (Torre del Parco), Viale Torre del Parco, 1, ☎ [phone]. A fortress symbol of Lecce's medieval period, built in 1419. It is now seat of meetings, weddings, cultural events and a 4-star hotel. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Obelisk (Obelisco), Piazzetta Arco di Trionfo (In front of Porta Napoli). 10 meters (33 ft) high structure built in 1822 in honour of king Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. (updated Jun 2018)

Il Sedile at night

• 🌍 Palazzo dei Celestini, Via Umberto I, 13 (beside Basilica di Santa Croce), ☎ [phone]. The seat of Province of Lecce in an impressive baroque building completed in 1695 (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Palazzo del Seggio (il Sedile), Piazza Sant'Oronzo, ☎ [phone]. 09:30-13:30 / 15:30-19:30. Ancient city hall, it represents an interesting mixture of gothic and renaissance architecture.It is situated in the middle of the vibrant Piazza S.Oronzo, contiguous with the small Church of San Marco. Free. (updated Jun 2018)

Do

Learn

Many people go to Apulia to learn the typical rustico recipes of the region's cuisine. Cooking schools abound, including

• The Awaiting Table cooking school
• Stile Mediterraneo Italian Cooking and Wine School Puglia: culinary vacations and wine tours in Apulia.

Buy

• Lecce cake
• fantastic gelato from Gelateria Natale in the old city.

Eat

Pasticciotti leccesi

Pasticciotto Leccese is the typical cake of the town. It is made of shortcrust pastry filled with custard and by tradition it must be eaten warm as a breakfast item.

• 🌍 Martinucci Laboratory, Via Salvatore Trinchese 7, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 09:00-01:30. Taste the delicious cakes and ice creams of the most famous ice-cream franchise of Salento. (updated Jun 2018)
• Joyce Vineria/Enoteca, Via Umberto I, 4, Lecce, Tel. [phone]
  • Delicious "cucina tipica" food served with aplomb in a small restaurant in the old city. Many inventive and interesting recipes, plus a large and relatively inexpensive selection of regional and national wines. A terrific choice in the old city, where many restaurants are aimed at tourists and are of limited quality.
• 🌍 Tabisca, Vico dietro lo Spedale dei Pellegrini 29 (an alley near Piazzetta Santa Chiara), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Mon-Sun 18:30-01:00. Mediterranean cuisine with a large choice of wine in the earth of the old city. (updated Jun 2018)

Drink

Sleep

The stronghold of Torre del Parco is now seat of a 4-star hotel

• 🌍 Azzurretta B&B, Piazza S.Oronzo – Via Andrea Vignes, 2b, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Good value compared to hotels. About 1 block away from the walled old city. The owner, Marco Larusso, speaks English reasonably well and is very helpful and accommodating. Be prepared to spend up to an extra US$10/day on metered street parking. 
• 🌍 B&B Corte dei Musco, Corte dei Musco, 3 - 73100 Lecce, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. In the historical centre of Lecce, near Porta Rudiae. It is on a ground-floor of a small, ancient building with a vaulted roof. The building has been subtly restructured and is in a serene and characteristic court of Lecce. It has two independent suites and a large, sunny terrace with a gazebo, small tables and sun-chairs. 
• 🌍 B&B Lecce Villa Giuliana, Via Carretti, 6, Arnesano, ☎ [phone]. Large free parking area and lounge terrace, en suite rooms within a lush garden and an acre of olive trees, organic fruit and home baked cakes. Linen and towels are also provided. €40-50 per person per day. 
• 🌍 B&B Piazza 300mila, Via 47° Reggimento Fanteria, 40, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:30. This bed and breakfast is in an elegant flat in a modern building in Piazza Mazzini. The furniture is modern, every room has heating during winter and air conditioning during summer, television, DVD player and a small refrigerator and Wi-fi. 

Mid-range

• 🌍 Agriturismo Arangèa, S.P. San Pietro in Lama/Monteroni angolo Via Vecchia Copertino, 20, e-mail: [e-mail]. An old farmhouse of a previous mansion, in the heart of Salento peninsula. 
• Hotel Casina Copini, Via S. Angelo 73038 Spongano, Tel. [phone] - Fax [phone]. Hotel Casina Copini offers visitors a swimming pool and a park in the context of a 19th-century villa in the province of Lecce.
• Hotel Casina dei Cari, S.P. Presicce-Lido Marini, 73054, Presicce Lecce - Tel. [phone] - Fax [phone]. Immersed in verdant Salento, amidst olive trees and stone walls, the Hotel Casina dei Cari has inherited a historical farmhouse between Presicce and Lido Marini.
• Masseria Scinata Dimora Antica B&B, Strada Santa Caterina, 201, 73048, Nardo', S.Caterina Lecce, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Scinata Dimora Antica is an holiday villa in Puglia, in the Salento region, a luxury B&B in Santa Caterina di Nardò near Gallipoli (Lecce). 
• Motel Aloisi, Via Taranto 297, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]-star hotel on the Salento peninsula. 
• Tenuta Monacelli, SS Quinzano Località Cerrate-Casalabate - Contrada Monacelli, 73100, Casalabate-Lecce - Tel. [phone] - Fax [phone]. Tenuta Monacelli, a farmhouse in Lecce.
• Villa delle Palme, Via kennedy, trepuzzi, 73019, ☎ [phone]. In the heart of Salento in Trepuzzi. 

Splurge

Go next

Nearby Lecce are the following towns:

• Otranto
• Monopoli
• Gallipoli
• Santa Maria di Leuca
• Specchia

Other popular destinations such as Alberobello and Matera are also easily reachable by car. Consider spending at least on day at each, but if you're too short on time it is possible to see the main attractions of both in a day trip from Lecce.

Routes through Lecce

Taranto ←	W  E	→ END
Padova ← Bari ←	N  S	→ Otranto
END ←	N  S	→ Gallipoli
Brindisi ←	N  S	→ END