Lecce Italy Travel Guide - Find the best travel tip, history, tourist attractions, famous churches, travel information, and an exclusive guide to shopping, food & drink and nightlife in Lecce, Italy. This city of Lecce, Italy is a dream for people who love Baroque architecture. Another typical Italian city, this place is unique for the fact that it has a multicultural history. Many civilizations had left their mark here and this is evident by the variety of designs and styles in the architecture as well as the multitude of crafts practised here. Situated in the south-eastern cusp of Italy near Salento, the small city of Lecce is considered an abode of cultural heritage. It is a flamboyant place with a mix of all cultures like Norman, Spanish and even Byzantine. The beautiful architecture of the masons, with their mix of animals, birds, monsters and cherubs never cease to surprise tourists with their architectural extravagance and eye for detail. In fact Lecce is known as the "La Firenze delle Puglie" (The Florence of Apulia) as it contains many monuments of significance. Baroque style is detailed in every other building but is different from those in other nations. The mild golden colored highly pliable stone, called ‘Lecce stone’ is shaped by craftsmen who let their ideas run wild especially when designing the facades.
History of Leece, Italy
Lecce over the years was conquered by many- the Norman, the Byzantine, the Spanish and other dynasties had settled here and left a lot of traces of their existence through their art and architecture. Lecce was found during the Messapian periods as is evident from the tombs and the funeral dresses which date back to the 5th and 4th century Before Christ. Slowly the Romans came to dominate and the Messapians were ousted. This justifies the huge Roman influence in the style of many buildings in this place.
Places to visit Lecce
A 2nd century A.D Roman column, Colonna Romana, was erected in Piazza Sant’Orozo, which is where the most important Roman ruins in Lecce can be found. The column initially stood in Brindisi to signal the end of the Appian Way. This column was brought down by a lightning strike in 1528. The people of Brindisi did not care about the loss and in 1661 the denizens of Lecce brought the column and set it up in their abode of St. Oronzo. Piazza Sant’Orozo was named after this and now stands proudly atop the square. The square was used for various purposes during the ages and in fact once served as a market with many shops. It was then called the Piazza dei Mercanti (Merchant’s Square).
Very near this piazza, is a Roman amphitheatre which can seat about 25,000 people. This was built in the 1st century B.C and many a wild fight between gladiators and beasts of the wild had taken place here. It was built part in travertine and held by strong arches in other places. Dug out in 1938, today only imperfect terraces, separated from the arena by a mezzanine, are seen. A strange monument called the “Sedile” stands on top of the amphitheatre and it is quite popular here. The Sedile was built in 1592 and was considered the “Seat of the town hall” till 1851. It has glass windows to maintain secrecy of meetings and discussions of the administrators.
Piazza del Duomo is present in a closed square and has a double-façade. Zingarello re-built this building between the years 1659 and 1670. Very near the Duomo are the 210 feet high campanile towers and the Bishop’s Palace, the residence of Lecce’s archbishop even now.
Lecce has a lot of Palazzos but it can’t get better than the Palazzo del Seminario. Also designed by Giuseppe Cino, this is one of the finer illustrations of Baroque architecture in this city. The Palazzo is adorned with friezes and tall pillars and the courtyard has a beautiful well which is decorated with garlands and also bunches of fruits and flowers.
From Piazzas and Palazzos to museums. The Sigismondo Castromediano Province Museum is the oldest in Puglia. Many archaeological findings and discoveries of historical significance are displayed here. These give a deep insight to the different ages the city has gone through. The picture gallery showcases the influence of Venetian and Byzantine art on the art works of Lecce. The Fransiscan Picture Gallery, in the Convent of the Minorites, also has a rich collection of paintings. It has more than fifty holy paintings. Situated in the same convent is the Natural History and Chinese Museum which contains two sections-one containing an intriguing collection of sea fossils and minerals and the other, ornamental bronze and ivory objects, musical instruments and chinaware.
One of the more popular landmarks in Lecce is the “Porta Napoli”, which is also called the “Triumphal Arch” and consists of two slender Corinthian pairs of columns. These were built way back in 1548 to hail Emperor Carlo V who had turned the city into a booming cultural and architectural hub.
The fringes of Lecce abound with holms and pine which attract people unfailingly. In fact the avenues of Otranto and Gallipoli, the Naples Gate,Garibaldi Villa are all star attractions.
A show at the prestigious Paisiello Theatre is a must for visitors but they take place only in particular seasons, so the planning should be done accordingly.
Churches in Lecce
One of the more significant monuments of the architect from the Norman times Giuseppe Cino (a student of Zimbalo) is the Church of Saints Nicolo andCataldo.
He gave the church a Baroque frontage but still managed to retain the medieval architecture like the portal and the central eye. The Church of Graces stands opposite the Sant’Oronzo and has two huge tympani, one circular and one triangular. Splendid baroque altars can be found in theChurch of Sant’Irene, which is known locally as the Church of the Theatines. The Basilica di Santa Croce lies north of the piazza Sant’Oronzo. Architect Gabriele Ricardo started work on this in the middle of the 15th century and it was fully completed only in 1680. The architecture resembles Spanish style and has cherubs, fantastical monsters, plants and animals covering the façade made of the beautiful Lecce stone. The top of the façade was constructed by Antonio Zimbalo and he has done quite a brilliant job at it. The interior, in stark contrast to the facade, is done in plain Renaissance style. About fifteen kilometers from Lecce is situated the very old Cerrate Abbey, which, according to popular legend, was founded by Tancredi d’Altavilla, a Norman King, when virgin Mary magically appeared before him during one his usual hunts. The place was once a significant religious centre but was later deserted. Now it contains the Provincial Museum of Folk Traditions in Salento with peasant articles.
Shopping in Lecce
Materials like the Lecce stone have made sure that craft flourishes in Lecce. The place is famous for its conventional wrought iron goods- not surprising considering its architectural culture. Ornamental grills and trivets are big attractions and shoppers throng the Salvatore Mancarella to get a taste of such items. For other local crafts like ceramics and terra cotta, the place to go is Mostra dell’Artigianato.
Food and Drink Lecce
How can one step into Italy and not delve into food! Local specialties like handmade pasta, bread, and fish thrill ones taste buds. Enoteca, the food emporium is a big draw and so is The Picton, which is also one of the more popular restaurants in the city where one could get a taste of authentic Salento cuisine. It has a good collection of vintage wines with a considerable collection of local and other popular Italian wines. Tourists love to have romantic dinners at old castles here. The 17th century fortress Castello Monaci surrounded by a huge park offers one such dining experience.
Night Life Lecce, Italy
Nightlife is pretty vibrant in Lecce because of the large number of students studying in the University of Lecce. Piazetta del Duca d’Atena and Corto Maltese are two popular hangouts here. The Villa della Monica is a very trendy pub and is present in the heart of the city.