During the fifteenth century, the Kingdom of Naples solidified rule over Lecce, which reached its peak as a cultural center within the 16th and 17th centuries. Plus, Lecce has fascinating Roman archeological stays, a museum of prehistoric ruins, lush public gardens, and typical Italian piazzas all proper under your ft. The Puglia area is known for decadent olive olive, cured meats and cheeses, valuable pasta shapes, and of course daring, flavorful wines. My golden rule of Italy journey is to avoid peak summer season journey whenever attainable. If you need a summer time journey, you will have a much easier and fewer crowded time in early June or late September than peak July or August. And because Puglia has a protracted summer season, you’ll have the ability to take pleasure in swimming as early as late May or as late as mid-October.

There are additionally free every day walking tours organized at Lecce’s tourism workplaces, which you can find within the Piazza Duomo, the Sedile in Palazzo del Seggio, and on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. They additionally supply cool specialised excursions, similar to Lecce by Night and Lecce During the Jewish Period. Stay a minimal of one night if you want to responsibly enjoy the wine bars or a pleasant dinner. Otherwise, Italy’s Florence of the South is a great contender for a day trip from close by Puglian towns. A day or two is adequate for seeing the highlights of Lecce without leaving city.

#4 Carlo V Citadel (castello Di Lecce)

High-speed Frecciarossa trains connect Lecce with Rome (Roma) in 5.5 hours, Florence (Firenze) in around eight hours, and even Turin (Torino) in around eleven hours. I adore these fast trains (and their business class is so luxe!), but they can be expensive and get costlier nearer to your journey date. The closest airport — recognized interchangeably as Salento and Brindisi Airport (BDS) — is positioned 30 miles north along the coast. It takes forty five minutes to drive to Lecce by rental automobile, while buses take forty minutes and value 6 EUR ($5.50 USD). If you’re already in Brindisi, you can catch a Trenitalia prepare, which takes 24 minutes flat.

The museum’s compact measurement and hands-on reveals make it an exciting and manageable experience for youthful guests, while also providing loads of historic intrigue for folks. Lecce is a fantastic vacation spot for households who love food, and there’s no higher way to experience Italian delicacies than by getting hands-on in a cooking class. Many culinary colleges and native vendors offer family-friendly cooking experiences where each adults and kids can learn how to make traditional dishes like orecchiette (ear-shaped pasta) and pizza. Children can participate in kneading the dough, shaping pasta, or assembling their pizzas, whereas studying about the ingredients and traditions behind Italian delicacies.

The Seminary is value visiting purely to see the cloistered courtyard, however there’s additionally a small museum outlining native artwork tendencies of the 17th and 18th centuries. Lecce is a small metropolis with a huge architectural legacy within the Salento area of Puglia. I first visited Lecce as a base for exploring this deeper, southern part of Puglia, and it made a perfect base. Lecce is an inland city, however you possibly can simply get to the famed beaches of the Ionian and Adriatic coastlines in less than an hour’s drive.

Fast Facts & Context About Lecce

Beyond the Duomo, households can go to the Church of Santa Croce, with its extremely detailed Baroque facade and inside that may captivate both kids and adults. Another must-see is the Basilica of San Giovanni Battista, identified for its ornate ceiling and stunning frescoes. Exploring these sacred spaces allows families to admire the great thing about Baroque art and architecture whereas experiencing a quiet, contemplative side of the town. Children can be inspired to watch the intricate particulars and learn about the history behind these awe-inspiring buildings.

It principally draws a line between the working day and dinnertime, whereas weekends have an much more celebratory atmosphere. This small-group Tour to Discover Lecce comes highly beneficial; over two hours, your skilled information will lead you to a few of Lecce’s most important historical websites. Bus number 106 connects Lecce Bus Station in one hour but driving takes forty minutes. Once you’re there, both discover at will or e-book this non-public Otranto strolling tour. It’s an effective way to brush up on the town’s historical past and pay attention to tales you’d in any other case miss.

The museum often hosts exhibitions and cultural occasions, fostering an appreciation for both visible arts and horticultural beauty. museodeibambini ” stands out as a testament to Lecce’s commitment to preserving and selling the arts in a harmonious and picturesque setting. If you’re questioning what to do in Lecce, you’ll have the ability to check with this information for Lecce sightseeing! Lecce is commonly called the “Florence of the South” as a end result of its abundance of lovely churches, many of that are excellent for a family-friendly exploration.

These historic Roman ruins tell of occasions past, the place as a lot as 5,000 elite guests filed in to enjoy comedies and tragedies on warm Lecce nights. You’ll discover an unbelievable Roman amphitheater on the southern facet of the square, significantly contrasting the modern shops and eateries surrounding it. For an unforgettable wine tour of Salento, book this Primitivo and Negroamaro Wine Tour. Yes, Lecce’s grand Baroque church buildings and megalithic monuments are impressive, but one of my private favorite issues to do in Lecce was visiting a small museum called the Faggiano House. An Apulian Baroque masterpiece, the sensational Basilica di Santa Croce is considered one of Lecce’s crown jewels. The Cathedral Square, Piazza del Duomo, may be essentially the most beautiful square in Lecce.