Lecce is provincial capital of Salento in the south of Puglia and known as the "Florence of the South" with its fine historical pedigree and culture dating back to the Roman times.

The "centro storico" or old town, which is accessed through 3 gates - Porta Rudiae, Porta San Biagio and Porta Napoli, is a master piece of Baroque architecture which can be seen pn the facades of the many palaces and churches. One of the main square, Piazza Sant'Oronzo, was partially built on top of a Roman amphitheatre with half of the ruins still visible.

Nightlife

For dinner, there are many restaurants offering alfresco dining along Corso Vittorio Emanuele and down Via Palmieri and for late evening entertainment, Lecce boasts a good selection of cocktail bars and nightclubs.

The Gelateria Pasticceria Natale is known as Lecce's best ice cream and cake shop and no visit to Lecce is complete without at least one visit!

Outside of the city, Otranto and Gallipoli are the hotspots where the beach bars are transformed in to open air discos and throughout the summer, the parties go right the way through the night until sunrise! The Bahia club in Otranto is very popular at the weekends.

San Cataldo Beach

This is the closest beach to Lecce taking around 10 minutes to cover the 7kms. With a pine forestson one side that is home to some spectacular villas and holiday homes and a sea-front nature reserve on the other, San Cataldo is a very pretty beach and an ideal retreat away from the sweltering heat of the city.

Torre dell'Orso

A 30 minute drive heading towards Otranto takes you to the golden sands of Torre dell'Orso. A stunning beach flanked by pine forests and chalky white cliffs. It comes with full facilities including beach bars and restaurants. Tourists from across Puglia come in their droves attracted by the gentle waters, amazing seafood restaurants and watersports.

Porto Cesareo

Around a 40 minute drive from the city on the Ionian side of Puglia is the pretty coastal town of Porto Cesareo. Blessed with some of the best beaches in Salento, Poerto Cesareo is not to be missed.

Lecce has a warm, sub-tropical climate with mild winters and hot summers. Temperatures rarely drop below 22°C until the end of October and can peak at 35°C and more in August. Spring is generally the best time to visit - it comes early in southern Italy with the almond trees blossoming in February and the spring flowers in full bloom in March.

Things to see and do

Lecce and the surrounding area is packed with interesting places to discover and activities to suit all ages. From relaxing on the stunning beaches to exploring the inner beauty of Puglia - a few suggestions...