Lecce, in the heart of Salento, is one of the most charming cities in Puglia, famous for its extraordinary artistic and architectural heritage in Baroque style. Often called the "Florence of the South," Lecce surprises with the elegance of its churches, noble palaces, and squares sculpted in Leccese stone, a limestone rock with a warm golden color that reflects the sunlight creating magical and evocative atmospheres.
Walking through the historic center, one is enchanted by the decorative richness of the Basilica of Santa Croce, a true emblem of Lecce Baroque, with its façade overflowing with figures, animals, vegetal motifs, and sacred symbols. A few steps away, Piazza Sant'Oronzo welcomes visitors and citizens with its Roman amphitheater, a testimony of the city's ancient glorious past, now perfectly integrated into urban life. Another vibrant heart of Lecce is Piazza del Duomo, one of the most beautiful enclosed squares in Italy, housing the Cathedral, the Bell Tower, and the Episcopal Palace, a complex that enchants during the day and transforms into pure poetry when illuminated at night.
But Lecce is not only art and monuments: it is also a lively, young, and welcoming city, thanks to the presence of the University of Salento and a rich calendar of cultural events, concerts, and festivals. Its streets host artisan shops where papier-mâché is still crafted, creative workshops, typical bars, and restaurants where you can taste Salento specialties such as pasticciotto, friselle, and dishes based on local fish and vegetables.
Living in Lecce means being captivated by its slow but intense rhythm, in an atmosphere that blends artistic beauty with the warm hospitality of the South. It is a city that remains in the heart of those who visit it, a place where every corner tells a story and where every sunset on the golden stone becomes a small masterpiece.
