Lecce, the grand dame of Puglia, is a dazzling city all dolled up in baroque embellishments. The buildings of the city are built in local limestone, lathered with joyous ornate carvings and adornments done with such exuberance that it gives the city a sense of gaiety. Lecce is extravagant, even flamboyant. It is the cultural capital of Puglia, with so many monuments, churches, palaces, and museums that it has been given the nickname, “The Florence of the South.” With its elegant city center and vibrant feel, it’s impossible not to love Lecce.
This is a city of rose windows, stone flourishes, garlands, Solomonic columns, small piazzas, and unexpected alleyways. Start your visit by walking under the arch of Porta Napoli and heading into the historic centre along Via Palmieri, flanked by aristocratic palazzos as it leads to Piazza Duomo. Alternatively, if you start at Porta Rudiae, you can abandon the paving stones of Via Libertini and dive into the ancient and intricate labyrinth that is the multi-ethnic Giravolte district, a crucible of ethnicities and cultures today, as it was in the past. You could then continue your tour by exploring the charming alleys and small piazzas, where the local Lecce stone glows pink as the sun sets.
Sleepy whitewashed villages, olive trees, splendid cuisine, and crystal clear sea, Puglia is a heaven on earth destination in the Deep South of Italy. Puglia is a less tourist destination than the overcrowded Tuscany, Venice, and Rome, making it an ideal destination for carefree holidays and an ideal destination to practice your skills in Italian since few people speak English. For the food lovers, Puglia is the favorite region in Italy for eating, patters of marinated and grilled vegetables, cheeses and of course homemade pasta are only some of the dishes you have to taste. Go to the beautiful hobbit-like Alberobello, at the labyrinth streets of Locorotondo and Ostuni, or the gorgeous towns of Otranto and Gallipolli next to the sea. Visit a fortified farmhouse or else masserrie and see how they produce olive oil, wine vegetables, and cheeses, it is an over the top experience. Don’t forget to enjoy the sun's powdery sand, and swim in the crystal clear waters at the beautiful Puglia's coastline.
The birthplace of the Roman Empire and Renaissance, Italy, showcases many of the world’s greatest artworks, architectural buildings and over the top gastronomical proposals. This is the country where the word “style” expresses the whole nation. Italy has more Unesco World Heritage cultural sites than any other country; among them are Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Michelangelo’s David and Sistine Chapel and da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
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