Lecce
Lecce is a city located in the Salento region of Puglia in the heel of Italy’s boot and constructed in concentric rings around the pulsing heart of its center, the ancient Lupiae. The lively, modern part of the city teems with offices and students, creating a youthful, energetic atmosphere. This fervent urban pace remains outside the historical center however, inside its ancient walls, the old city continues to live in rhythm with the past, and once you enter, it is a completely different world. There are three remaining gates, or “portas” and they all lead to Piazza Sant’Oronzo, St. Oronzo Square, a veritable junction of ancient lanes and paved stone streets. Once you enter Porta Rudiae, you leave the chaotic city traffic behind you, continuing either on foot or by bicycle you will pass the fascinating Rosario Church, the opulent elegance of the Accademia delle Belle Arti, and following via Libertini you will suddenly come upon the surprise of Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral Square, a jubilation of Baroque art immersed in the delicate tonalities of Lecce stone, glorious by day and a world of pure enchantment by night.
Getting to Lecce
You don’t need a car in Lecce as it’s small enough to walk everywhere and parking isn’t easy, but if you’ll be exploring the area it’s much easier to do so by car than by public transport.
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The nearest airport to Lecce is Brindisi (30-minute drive), while Bari airport is a 2-hour drive away. You can rent a car at Brindisi airport or take a shuttle bus from the airport to Lecce (40 minutes, €6.50).
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The Best Time of Year to Visit Lecce
The summer months July and August are very hot and crowded and it’s best to avoid visiting then if possible. June and September have reliable weather and are probably the best times to enjoy the beaches without huge crowds. In April-May it was sunny most days with daytime temperatures in the high 20s Celsius and night temperatures around 17–20ºC—by the end of April we could go out for dinner without a sweater. |
Attractions
The Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Sant’Oronzo
A good starting point for your Lecce explorations is the city’s main square, Piazza Sant’Oronzo. The highlight is the large Roman amphitheatre which once seated 14,000 spectators on its two tiers, although only the lower tier remains—sometimes concerts still take place here.
In the piazza you can also see the column of Sant’Oronzo and an unusual 20-meter high bronze clock, the Orologio Delle Meraviglie, created in 1955.
If you are in need of refreshment, Caffe Alvino is a good place for a coffee and pastry or aperitivo.
A good starting point for your Lecce explorations is the city’s main square, Piazza Sant’Oronzo. The highlight is the large Roman amphitheatre which once seated 14,000 spectators on its two tiers, although only the lower tier remains—sometimes concerts still take place here.
In the piazza you can also see the column of Sant’Oronzo and an unusual 20-meter high bronze clock, the Orologio Delle Meraviglie, created in 1955.
If you are in need of refreshment, Caffe Alvino is a good place for a coffee and pastry or aperitivo.
Lecce Cathedral
The Cathedral was originally built in 1144 and was rebuilt in the 17th century by architect Giuseppe Zimbalo in the decorative baroque style that now characterises the city.
Lecce Cathedral is free and is open 8.30 am –12.30 pm and 4 pm – 6.30 pm.
The Cathedral was originally built in 1144 and was rebuilt in the 17th century by architect Giuseppe Zimbalo in the decorative baroque style that now characterises the city.
Lecce Cathedral is free and is open 8.30 am –12.30 pm and 4 pm – 6.30 pm.
Santa Chiara Church is on a cute square
Roman Theatre
Hidden amongst the narrow streets of the baroque city is a 2nd century CE Roman Theatre that once seated 4000 people and was only rediscovered amongst the gardens and palaces in 1929. You can see the theatre from Via Arte della Cartapesta, a small street to the left of Chiesa Santa Chiara. To go inside, the entrance is on Via degli Ammirati and costs €3 and includes entrance to a small museum.
St Oronzo square
Piazza Sant’Oronzo is the most famous piazza in the city.St. Oronzo became the patron saint of Lecce after saving the people of Lecce from the Plague, receiving the statue and the piazza dedicated to him in thanks. The statue we see today is from the XVIII century, created by a Venetian maestro, carved in wood and then covered in copper plate as a replacement for the more ancient, original statue which was destroyed by an explosion of fireworks.
Apollo Theatre
Teatro Apollo is one of the most recently constructed of Lecce’s theaters, it has had the most troubled history. Built in the early 1900’s to host the greatest number of spectators possible, it is an imposing theater with a series of columns supporting an architrave in full neoclassical style. Regardless of its magnificence, in 1986 the curtains closed on its last show. Sad years to come for the noble Apollo, which became victim to time and neglect and began to fall in to ruin. Eventually, restoration work on the theater began, and after many long years, in February 2017, the theater was finally given back to the people of Lecce, resplendent in a new luster, with a grand inauguration ceremony and even grander guests of honor: the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and the Minister of Art and Culture, Dario Franceschini.
The historic city center of Lecce
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