Location: Lecce
Top Things to do in Lecce
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What to do and see in Lecce, Puglia: The Best Things to do
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. Basilica di Santa Croce
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,258 reviews
Reviewed By GRS-SJS - Sebastopol, United States
Lecce is a true center piece of Baroque architecture. The Basilica a excellent example of this style. You really need to stand and study the building with your eyes as you would a piece of art.
2. Duomo di Lecce
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,562 reviews
Reviewed By israroz - Ra'anana, Israel
One of the most impressive churches we visited during our long trip to Italy. A most impressive church both in the exterior structure and especially in the incredible richness of all the works of art that fill the interior space of this amazing church. Very impressive and highly recommended.
3. Anfiteatro Romano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,009 reviews
Reviewed By Seeking_True_Quality
The visible, smaller part of this amphitheatre was discovered and excavated in the early XX. century by the archaeologist Cosimo De Giorgi, while the larger part is obviously still buried under the buildings around the Piazza Sant'Oronzo. Although the upper structure is not preserved, we were impressed by the size of it. It has been estimated that its capacity was 25000 seats. The ancient Lupiae, the predecessor of Lecce must have been a very important settlement!
4. Museo Faggiano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 680 reviews
Reviewed By 788lc - Derbyshire, United Kingdom
We loved this fascinating private museum near the Biagio Gate. Layers of history hidden below an old Lecce house, discovered by the owners by accident. The owner's son was very helpful and friendly, explaining how they uncovered the layers, going right back to Roman times. Well worth a visit, and a great view from the Templar watchtower at the top of the house.
5. Abbazia di Santa Maria di Cerrate
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 214 reviews
Reviewed By cordyroy - Naples, United States
Our visit to this small formet abbey was very pleasant. its about 15 min drive from Lecce. The new displays show what the origional frescos looked like, what happened to them over time and what is being done to preserve them. The ladies at the ticket counter are very nice and helpful.
6. Centro Storico, Lecce
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,555 reviews
Reviewed By gaypugliapodcast - Puglia, Italy
... and caffè leccese. The baroque architecture in Lecce’s historic centre is wonderful. The most impressive way to enter the old town is via one of the historic gates. Porta Napoli or Porta Rudiae on the west, Porta San Biagio on the east. Entering the old town from the Porta Rudiae takes you directly to the Piazza del Duomo, for the Cattedrale di Lecce with its double facade and five-storey campanile, then onward to the Sant’Oronzo Column, a Roman column topped with a bronze statue of the city’s patron saint and the sunken Roman amphitheater. Don’t however leave it at that! Take your time to amble through the narrow streets of the old town, crossing from the historic gates that allow you to enter or leave. The great thing is that you can do it all in an afternoon, with time for some aperitivi and dinner, although more time is recommended. Be sure to stop off for Lecce’s most famous pastry, the pasticciotto, a crumbly pie-type pastry traditionally filled with an egg custard, though sometimes with jam, Nutella (of course) or crema di pistacchio or a mix of these. Take it with a caffè leccese - another Puglia classic. A shot of espresso served over ice and with almond “milk” (it’s actually an almond syrup). The old town is packed full of good restaurants and busy bars. It is where we go to shop, with some of our favourite boutiques (there is no concept of "high street" here).
7. Piazza Sant'Oronzo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 631 reviews
Reviewed By happytravellady - Macclesfield, United Kingdom
Whilst this isn't the square with the duomo, it somehow feels like the centre of the old town with lots going on. Tourist information is situated by the central ruins.
8. Piazza del Duomo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,099 reviews
Reviewed By ViaggiatorExpert30
If you are in Lecce, you have to walk through the old town and reach rhis square (Piazza Duomo). There is a cathedral and a diocese palace. They have built in tuff, a particular rock of this area. In the diocese palace there is a museum, but for the entrance at the museum and cathedral you have to pay. anyway enjoy the atmosphere of this square.
9. Museo Fantasy
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 130 reviews
Hi, we are the twins brothers Gabriele and Vittorio Magrì, artists and special effects technicians. We worked in 25 national and internazional movies and now we want to show you our creations at Museo Fantasy. COLLABORATIONS: DARIO ARGENTO, ROBERTO BENIGNI, ZOOLANDER 2, BEN-HUR, TITUS, MICHELE SOAVI, ROBERT ENGLUND, CARLO RAMBALDI, BRACCIALETTI ROSSI 3, MANUALE D’AMORE 2, STRISCIA LA NOTIZIA, SCHERZI A PARTE... ecc, ecc
10. Jewish Museum Lecce
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 203 reviews
The museum is located in a medieval building, which now presents itself as a late 16th – 17th century palazzo. It encompasses the remains of a 15th century synagogue, which was right in the centre of the Jewish district in Lecce. Visitors to the museum can see the pools that in all likelihood were once used for ritual bathing (mikwa’ot), the doorpost groove that housed the sacred parchment with religious verses from the Scriptures (mezuzah), as well as significant remains of the church that later partially incorporated the earlier synagogue. Visitors are invited to follow the threads linking the Jewish presence in Lecce from the Middle Ages to the present; the legacy of Apulian Judaism visible within other communities of the diaspora, as well as the threads linking Judaism with other faith communities in and around Lecce. We also provide themed tours for tourists interested in discovering the history of the Jewish presence in Apulia.
Reviewed By mznw3 - London, United Kingdom
We found the tour of the Jewish Museum both fascinating and moving, with Claudia, our guide, explaining the hidden history of the Jews in Lecce and the south of Italy. We particularly enjoyed the sense that there was still a lot to be learnt, and were encouraged by the commitment shown by those who had set up the museum to try and learn about this submerged (in many senses) aspect of Lecce’s past, which tends to read as if nothing happened between the Romans and the Baroque. Definitely recommended.
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