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Lecce (/ ˈlɛtʃeɪ /; [5] Italian: [ˈlettʃe] ⓘ) [Lang 1] is a city in southern Italy and former capital of the province of Lecce, with the second-highest population in the Apulia region. It is on the Salentine Peninsula, at the heel of the Italian Peninsula, and is over two thousand years old.
Lecce is a city in southern Italy and former capital of the province of Lecce, with the second-highest population in the Apulia region. It is on the Salentine Peninsula, at the heel of the Italian Peninsula, and is over two thousand years old. Overview. Map. Directions.
Nov 29, 2023 · The Facts: Region: Apulia. Province: Lecce. Population: ~ 95,000. Last Updated: November 29, 2023. . Maps of Italy. Italy maps. Cities.
- Lecce, Puglia: An Architectural Gem in The Heel of Italy’s Boot
- Finding The Heart of The Old City
- Saint Irene and Saint Oronzo
- Buried Treasure: Lecce’s Roman Amphitheater
- The Breathtaking Basilica of Santa Croce
- Mouthwatering Local Food in Lecce
- Trip Notes
Lecce is found in Italy’s deepest south, about an hour and forty minutes by car from Bari, the regional capital. It’s an easy drive, down the coast on the motorway or along coastal roads that follow the beaches and provide expansive views of the Adriatic Sea and centuries-old olive groves. On arrival, I always head for the Old Town (Centro storico)...
The formal entry to Lecce’s historic center is through Porta Napoli, an arch built in 1548 in honor of King Carlo V who had built the defensive fortifications that once surrounded the city. The old walls no longer exist and so now, the magnificent arch stands triumphally alone, flanked by two Corinthian columns and the Habsburgroyal crest. Over the...
Next on the walking tour is the Church of Saint Irene, patron saint of the city until Pope Alexander VII rudely gave her the shove and installed a man – Saint Oronzo – in her place. (He no longer has a church but a piazza, just a short walk away). Saint Irene’s was begun in 1591 and is modeled on one of Rome’s great Basilicas, Sant’Andrea del Valle...
It isn’t exactly rare to find a Roman amphitheatre in Italy, but Lecce’s is right in the middle of the old town, brilliantly preserved and incredibly, only rediscovered in 1901. It had been buried by other structures for millennia until a builder digging foundations for a new bank found the treasure. Built during the Emperor Hadrian’s reign, when L...
The first time I clapped eyes on the Basilica of Santa Croce (Holy Cross), just a stone’s throw from the center, I was reduced to silence, unusual as all my friends would attest. This church began life in the 12th century, thanks to the hermit Pietro de Morrone who would later become Pope Celestine, but the current incarnation was begun in 1549 and...
Breakfast is my favorite meal in Lecce: Caffe Leccese (espresso, in summer served icy cold) with a shot of sweet, locally produced almond syrup. This must be washed down with a pasticciotto Leccese, shortcrust pastry filled with a plain, lemon scented custard or an array of flavors including my favorite, pistachio. You must eat this warm from the o...
Fly into Bari or Brindisi airports and hire a car for the easy drive. Many of the city’s old palazzi have been turned into elegant B&Bs, ranging from five-star luxury to smart budget rooms. Lecce is much loved by Italians in summer, so the best time to avoid crowds is late spring or early autumn when you will still get blue skies and sunshine.
Lecce is the southernmost province in Apulia, the easternmost one in Italy. It is called "the Heel of Italy" due to its location on the Salento peninsula, of which it represents the southern half. Map. Directions.
The MICHELIN Lecce map: Lecce town maps, road map and tourist map, with MICHELIN hotels, tourist sites and restaurants for Lecce
Lecce. Puglia, Italy, Europe. If Puglia were a movie, Lecce would be cast in the starring role. Bequeathed with a generous stash of baroque buildings by its 17th-century architects, the city has a completeness and homogeneity that other southern Italian metropolises lack.
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