Location: Lecce
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What to do and see in Lecce, Puglia: The Best Historical & Heritage Tours
Lecce (Italian: [ˈlettʃe] ( listen) or locally [ˈlɛttʃe]; Sicilian: Lecci, Griko: Luppìu, Latin: Lupiae, Ancient Greek: Λουπίαι) is a historic city of 95,766 inhabitants (2015) in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Apulia. It is the main city of the Salentine Peninsula, a sub-peninsula at the heel of the Italian Peninsula and is over 2,000 years old.
Restaurants in Lecce
1. Lecce and Gallipoli Full-Day Heritage and Wine Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Indulge in a chauffeured tour of wine, food, and the spectacular landscape of Puglia. Savour some of the best wines and get a glimpse of some of the region's architectural gems. You'll travel in comfort and style on this vineyard tour and Lecce visit.
Inclusions: Pick up / Drop off from Ostuni, Lecce, Bari, Visit to Lecce and Gallipoli, Lunch at an upscale restaurant, Winetasting – 5 award winning organic wines, Coffee Break, Private transport, fully equipped for your complete comfort, Expert bilingual (English/Italian, Spanish/Italian) tour escort (French, German, Japanese and Russian upon request)
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By Gracefulcoaching
Giovanni and his team created a wonderful experience for my clients on retreat in Puglia. Learning to make pasta by hand and then being served the most delicious lunch was a highlight. More so the way Giovanni took care of us was so personal, we got an authentic Italian experience with a local Italian! He made us all feel very at home , this added value he especially for my American clients who were visiting Puglia for the first time. I will be hiring Green Italy Tours for future retreats knowing I can trust the level of care and connection on offer. An insiders experience of Puglia, what more to ask for!
2. Valle d'Itria Tour with Professional Guide, from Lecce
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Departing from Lecce, you will travel aboard a comfortable air-conditioned minivan. This tour will give you the opportunity to discover the Itria Valley, an area characterized by the presence of the extraordinary "Trulli", mythical houses with a conical roof, built with overlapped dried limestone. The whole Valley is surrounded by wonderful countrysides dominated by a rich vegetation and natural landscapes. It includes characteristic villages,among which you will visit Alberobello, Martina Franca and Ostuni. Each of these towns appear magical and contain a fairy tale-like atmosphere.
Inclusions: Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities
Reviewed By Kim L
We were staying in Lecce and did this tour in September. It was a great way to see the major sites of 4 nearby towns and hear some of the history. Our guide spoke very good english and he and our driver were both excellent. Highly recommended!
3. Lecce Private Walking Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
From Porta Napoli, start this exciting experience with an expert, funny, local guide, that will be there exclusively for you and ready to reply to all your questions. Walking off the beaten paths, discover the most beautiful noble palaces, like Palazzo Adorno and its façade diamond-shaped. Learn histories about the families who lived in the town in past centuries and curious anecdotes about the buildings that you will pass. See the jewels of Baroque architecture like Basilica of Santa Croce and Piazza Sant'Oronzo with the "Sedile" the old city Hall. Let yourself be attracted by the soft atmosphere in Piazza Duomo, the unique closed square with it's baroque jewels: the old Seminary, the bell tower and the church.
Inclusions: Walking tour
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By SydneyGlobalist
Very pleasant way to get to know Lecce! We came away with a good understanding of the city's history and very full bellies. Antonella was a great guide.
4. Lecce. Journey to discover a charming baroque
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
The historic center of Lecce is one of the most interesting in Puglia. The particularity of its Baroque architecture derives from the ability of local artists and architects who, between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, have done something unique thanks to the quality of the tender local stone. Our tour will be a journey through time, from the splendor of the Roman Empire to contemporary Lecce. An elegant and refined city where churches and ancient buildings alternate artisan workshops (especially papier-mache), shops and places where you can taste typical products.
Inclusions: Guided walking tour
Exclusions: Entrance tickets to churches
Reviewed By AlisaTD
We had an AMAZING time with our tour guide, Fabio. He was so knowledgeable about the area and told incredible stories about the history of Otranto. We learned so much and he made it SO fun. This is definitely a must for any visit to Otranto. The city has so much history and this tour is the perfect way to see everything and learn a ton. This was one of the highlights of our trip to Puglia!
5. Otranto. Fantastic Middle Ages at the gates of the East
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Otranto is the easternmost city of Italy, it is a natural harbor and this has always influenced its history and appearance. From Otranto civilizations have passed, people, stories and goods that have left an indelible mark on its appearance. The cathedral, with its mosaic (1163-1165) represents without a shadow of a doubt a must for every stay in Puglia. The sea of Otranto, then, clear and crystalline even in the port is the setting for a city of unusual and bewitching beauty. On the horizon, on a clear day, the mountains of Albania invite you to travel and discover new places and perhaps even yourself.
Inclusions: Guide
Exclusions: Entrance ticket to the castle
Reviewed By aalb70
Fabio was a wonderful and knowledgable guide who brought the history and splendour of Lecce alive. We had walked around the city the night before but revisiting it with Fabio made us feel that we were seeing it anew. Equipped with his deep archeological knowledge, Fabio answered all our questions and gave us a comprehensive understanding of the rich history of this beautiful city. He was also a great source of information for other places to visit in and around Lecce. Highly recommended!
6. - 4 Days in Puglia from Alberobello and Matera to Ostuni and Lecce -
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
We offer tailored daily excursions and multi-day tours for our guests. They are all private exclusive itineraries and can be accompanied with luxury car, minivan or bus (according to the number of people in your party). Each vehicle is provided with Free On-Board Wifi. Each tour can be accompanied by an English speaking guide and a private driver (2 different persons).
Inclusions: Private tour guide, Transport , Accommodation
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By chooms
We set up a 4 day tour during our visit to Puglia recently. Months ahead I contacted Tours of Puglia to help us get the most of our visit. Francesca asked us what we wanted to see instead of telling us “this is the Tours we have”. Our main goal was to visit our ancestral home of Alberobello. I also asked her recommendations, which she gladly provided. She set up a full 4 days of touring which included 2 night stays in Alberobello (Trullo houses) and Lecce. We visited all of the main sites of Puglia like Locorotondo, Matera , Ostuni, etc....she included an incredible meal each day, including a meal at a Masseria....our guides, Vincenzo and Flo were beyond incredible....they were like walking historic encyclopedias. Vincenzo was instrumental is us locating the street in Alberobello where our grandmother was born. They, and our drivers, went out of their way to insure we missed nothing. We were just 4, so everything could be personalized. Everything went as planned and we could not have asked for for more....we cannot recommend Tours of Puglia mort highly...
7. Lecce Bike Tour
Overall Ratings
4.7 based on 83 reviews
Experience a pleasant bike tour of Lecce and let your expert multilingual guide show you the most important attractions of the Apulian Baroque capital. Visit the Basilica of Santa Croce and piazza del Duomo, home to Lecce Cathedral.
Inclusions: Light refreshments, Driver/guide, Professional guide, Use of bicycle, Use of helmet, Small-group bike tour
Exclusions:
Reviewed By rozalska
Friendly, professional, and fair!!!!!!!! Lecce and its vicinity is beautiful and well worth discovering by bike. And the bike MUST be rented at Velo Service, because it gives you chance to meet Sonia, who assists you in choosing the right bike, who is not only committed to her job, and loves it, but also - if you are as distracted (speaking plainly - stupid) as I was, and forget your wallet - she calls you "it seems you forgot something". This was the best experience during my whole trip. Thank you!
8. Lecce Sightseeing Bike Tour and Papier-Mâché Workshop
Overall Ratings
2.5 based on 2 reviews
Explore Lecce and discover picturesque and hidden corners with an expert guide and then meet a local artisan and join a papier mâché workshop in a typical atelier.
Inclusions: Light refreshments, All activities, Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only), Local guide, Bike rental and helmet
Exclusions: Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Reviewed By rozalska
Friendly, professional, and fair!!!!!!!! Lecce and its vicinity is beautiful and well worth discovering by bike. And the bike MUST be rented at Velo Service, because it gives you chance to meet Sonia, who assists you in choosing the right bike, who is not only committed to her job, and loves it, but also - if you are as distracted (speaking plainly - stupid) as I was, and forget your wallet - she calls you "it seems you forgot something". This was the best experience during my whole trip. Thank you!
9. Lecce Guided Walking Tour and Lunch with typical products
A guided walking tour to find out Lecce and its artistic beauties and its more typical flavors. You will remain enchanted visitng the historical center streets with the amazing buildings and the wonderful monuments. The tour also includes tastings of typical Salentine dismes and specialities.
Inclusions: Food tasting, Wine tasting, Professional guide, Snacks, Alcoholic Beverages
Exclusions: Gratuities, Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Reviewed By Kim L
We were staying in Lecce and did this tour in September. It was a great way to see the major sites of 4 nearby towns and hear some of the history. Our guide spoke very good english and he and our driver were both excellent. Highly recommended!
10. 5-day Puglia, Benevento, and Matera Tour from Rome
A wonderful 5-day experience to discover Apulia, Benevento and Matera. 2 nights in Lecce. Visit of the city, excursion to Polignano, Gallipoli, Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca. Visit of Alberobello and Ostuni. 1 night in Bari. Visit of the city, excursion to Castel del Monte. 1 night in Matera with a visit. Stop in Benevento, nice town of the Roman age in the region Campania on the way back to Rome. Departures on 2021, May 17th and October 11th and 2022, May 6th and October 10th are also available with tour director in Portuguese.
Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, 4 nights accommodation, Food tasting (wine and olive oil), Local guide, Tour escort/host, Private tour, Transport by private vehicle
Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, City taxes at the hotel, Hotel pick up and drop off, Porterage
Reviewed By LadyRJ2019
As a family of three, we were excited to go on the 7 day northern lakes and Dolomites tour - especially as it would be very difficult to visit these areas by ourselves (visiting from Australia and not confident driving/getting around to these areas). The tour started well, we were the only English speakers but we had been assured our guide would provide fluent English commentary. Perhaps we expected too much but there was very little information provided about where we were or where we were travelling through. In fact, the first three days we received very limited information in total while the Spanish speakers were provided with much more. We visited some stunning places but too much of the tour focused on lunch breaks and eating rather than seeing the sights. Halfway through the tour more English speakers joined the group bit we still had to seek information rather than being provided with it on some occasions. The bus was too big for navigating city streets and mountain switchbacks - the driver often had to reverse and try multiple times to get around corners and switchbacks. I felt very sorry for him - he did a marvelous job but it would have been so much easier for him and much more enjoyable for us if we weren't concerned about falling off the side of a mountain. The company can't seem to decide whether they are catering to small groups or large and this has a huge impact on the enjoyment of the tour. In Trento we were advised that we would have several hours and could visit the castle. After paying for admission and entering we were then advised that because it was raining some people didn't want to stay so we were cutting the visit short - this should never happen! We then had to get back on the bus only to stop at a truck stop for lunch (instead of staying in lovely Trento). There wasn't really any point to having the guide as he did not provide much "guiding" only very limited information and directions to places he thought we should go and eat. We would have done as well with just the driver. If you can navigate your way around the northern lakes and Dolomites by yourself then I recommend you do that. Otherwise, perhaps a different company would provide a better tour.
