//
Comune in Apulia, Italy
Photo: Chris0693, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Lecce (Salentino: Lècce) is a city in the Apulia region of Italy. 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.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Basilica di Santa Croce
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.
Duomo di Lecce
On the South side of Piazza del Duomo, the cathedral (Duomo) is a wonderful example of baroque style. Most of the cathedral was designed by Giuseppe Zimbalo and it was completed in 1689. Separate from the cathedral on the east side of the piazza is the duomo bell tower. Ride the lift up 43 metres for spectacular 360° views.
Sant'Irene dei Teatini
A majestic baroque church with an elegant and quite sober exterior that hides a richly decorated interior.
Basilica di San Giovanni Battista
A magnificent façade characterised by two grooved columns, completed in 1728. It is just few steps away from Porta Rudiae.
Built in 1429 and renovated in 1691, its main features are the octagonal interior plan and the lavish altars.
La chiesa di Santa Maria della Grazia a Lecce
Built in 1580s, this baroque-style church is in the Piazza Sant'Oronzo, overlooking the Roman Amphitheatre, and houses a 14th-century fresco of the Holy Virgin and Child. According to a legend, a young goldsmith was prompted in his dream by the Holy Virgin to find a lit lamp and the painting of the Virgin, following which the chapel became a destination of pilgrimage and a place of miraculous healing. The sumptuous walnut ceiling is carved by Vespasiano Genuino: the original ceiling centrepieces (The Virgin of Grace and the Trinity Crowning the Virgin) are removed from the ceiling, replaced by replicas, and exhibited in the church. This is a beautiful church with a charming atmosphere thanks to its acoustics. If you are lucky, you can also listen to rehearsals or concerts. The church has a nice souvenir shop that sells hand-made soap, jams and other souvenirs. A Lampedusa Cross (made with the wood of boats that carried migrants) is exhibited in the church.
Anfiteatro romano
The structure was built during the 2nd century AD and it was able to seat more than 25,000 people. It is used for various religious, music and art events.
Teatro romano
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.
Parco archeologico di Rudiae
Site of an ancient Messapian and then Roman town, 3 km south from the city center. Here you can see the remains of an amphitheatre, a necropolis and walls.
Castello Asburgico
A majestic medieval castle rebuilt during the first half of 16th century. It is seat of several exhibitions, events and conferences.
Porta Napoli
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.
The oldest gate of the town, rebuilt in 1703 in baroque style.
The southern entrance to the old town, dedicated to Saint Blaise. It is 17 m (55 ft) tall and it's topped by the coat of arms of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies.
Torre del Parco
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.
Obelisco
10-m-high (33 ft) structure built in 1822 in honour of King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies.
The seat of Province of Lecce in an impressive baroque building completed in 1695
il Sedile
Ancient city hall, it represents an interesting mixture of gothic and renaissance architecture. It is in the middle of the vibrant Piazza S.Oronzo, contiguous with the small Church of San Marco.
Faggiano Museum
Private residence converted into a museum after discovering ruins underneath the house during renovation in the year 2000.
Museo provinciale archeologico Sigismondo Castromediano
The oldest museum in Puglia, with an impressive collection of old Greek and Roman pottery and other artifacts. It exhibits artefacts excavated from the sea and has a small illuminated aquarium with fish and old vessels excavated from the bottom of the sea. You can also see two Venetian polyptychs of the 14th century. Hosts exhibitions of modern artists of Salento. The museum is on two floors, accessible to people with reduced mobility. Entry is free of charge (2024) because the museum is owned by the Province of Lecce.
Museo Storico-Archeologico dell'Università del Salento (MUSA)
MUSA exhibits archaeological remains (pottery, statues, coins, old tools, etc.) from Prehistory (Middle Palaeolithic, Iron Age, Bronze Age, the civilization of the Messapian tribes) to Middle Ages and is equipped with multimedia and reconstructions (of caves, houses, graves, etc.) to help visualise the life in ancient times in Salento and the basin of the Mediterranean. It shows the artifacts retrieved by the archaeologists of the Universities of Catania and Lecce. The museum is on the ground floor of the Studium 2000 campus and is accessible for people with reduced mobility. The Museum of Papyrology is in the adjacent building.
Museo Papirologico
Housed on the ground floor of the Palazzo Palladiano within the University complex Studium 2000, the Papyrological Museum of the Papyrological Studies Center of the University of Salentois one of the best in Europe and exhibits Greek papyrus, hieroglyphics, hieratic, demotic, Coptic and ancient objects related to writing in antiquity. An explanatory panel depicts the Charta Borgiana (the first Greek papyrus to reach the West from Egypt in 1778 and is preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples) and there is a reproduction of the Rosetta Stone (the original is in the British Museum in London). The Papyrological Museum is part of the Museum Network of the Puglia Region. The Historical-archaeological museum of the University of Salento (MUSA) is in the next building.
Museo della Cartapesta
Situated in the basement of the Castle of Charles V, this small museum is dedicated to artistic papier-mâché. The art of papier-mâché in Lecce is a phenomenon unique to Apulia and most of the statues in churches in Lecce are made of papier-mâché. The museum can be visited as part of a 30-minute guided tour which can be combined also with the guided tour of the Castle (€4, €5 with the Castle tour).
Famous ice cream franchise that also makes delicious cakes.
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.
Mediterranean cuisine with a large choice of wine in the old city.
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 €10/day on metered street parking.
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.
Bed and breakfast on the outskirts of Lecce immersed in an acre of olive groves and typical fruits of Salento offering en suite rooms and organic breakfast, with complimentary parking, swimming pool, lounge terrace, lush garden, bikes and plenty of daily activities from cooking classes to cycling and walking excursions.
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.
An old farmhouse of a previous mansion, in the heart of Salento peninsula.
Scinata Dimora Antica is a holiday villa in Puglia, in the Salento region, a luxury B&B in Santa Caterina di Nardò near Gallipoli (Lecce).
3-star hotel on the Salento peninsula.
In the heart of Salento in Trepuzzi.
By train
National operator Trenitalia runs long distance trains from most major cities in Italy. Even as the trains travel on high-speed tracks, journey times can be long.
By car
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:
By boat
By taxi
LecceTaxi covers the town and other destinations in the Salento area.
By car
By bicycle
Through the Ciclovia Adriatica that connects Trieste with Santa Maria di Leuca, the coastline follows a riviera rich in beaches. The part from the Po Delta in Trieste is included in EuroVelo 8.
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).
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Brindisi · International · BDS
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Lecce and Italy.
Travel tipsUnderstand travel insurance for a Schengen visa in 2026. Learn mandatory €30,000 medical coverage, zero deductible rules, and embassy-approved policies.
7 min read
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind out how much does a trip to Italy cost in 2026. Compare realistic daily budgets for hotels, food, trains, and museum entry across three travel styles.
8 min read
Travel tipsEstimate your Europe trip cost for 2 weeks in 2026. Compare realistic budgets for lodging, Eurail trains, dining, and sightseeing across three styles.
8 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.