Lecce has been, several times, a candidate for European Capital of Culture as the city is rich in history and artistic events, especially in summer.
In our neighborhood, you can find interesting attractions that cannot be missed:
– the Urban Forest, the city’s green lung;
– the Sigismondo Castromediano Museum, a meeting point between archaeological and contemporary art;
– the Apulian Railway Museum, a timeless space waiting to be discovered;
– the Tagghiate Urban Park, a centre for socio-cultural and musical events;
– the Karmar Houses Arena, a softair camp with 30,000 square metres of fun.
Also known as the ‘Florence of the south‘, Lecce enchants its visitors with its Baroque architecture, expressed on the historical buildings’ facades.
The most stunning example of Baroque art is represented by the beautiful Basilica of Santa Croce. From rustico to pasticciotto leccese, from calzone to puccia salentina, Salento offers a wide variety of ‘street food‘ and culinary traditions. It is worth discovering the local olive oil and wine such as Primitivo, Negramaro and Salice Salentino.
A must-try is the typical Lecce iced-coffee: caffè espresso mixed with almond milk served in a glass of ice. A true delight!
The Lecce’s surrounding villages can not be missed, first among them Galatina, where the Basilica of Santa Caterina of Alexandria, preserves the second and most important examples of the old Franciscan School of Painting; Acaya, is a small pearl that need to be discovered in both historical and naturalistic terms, thanks to the presence of the Natural Reserve of Le Cesine; Nardò with the Castello degli Acquaviva, the rich Municipal Library and the magnificent Piazza Salandra, is one of the most beautiful villages of Apulia; Calimera, is the epicentre of the Greek-Byzantine culture characterising the area of the famous ‘Grecìa Salentina‘; Also Specchia, Maglie and Tricase deserve a visit: each of these places are full of history and treasures that just wait to be discovered and shared.
A special mention goes to the small village of Salve. Salve is the hometown of Sara and Marta, the owners of the Guesthouse. Here you will find a rare example of a 17th century organ located inside the magnificent parish Church of San Nicola Magno.
The seaside villages have a lot to offer too: Otranto, the famous Salento white city, Santa Cesarea Terme and Castro, with their sloping paths, and Santa Maria of Leuca, the most southerly point, known as ‘de finibus terrae‘. Here the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea meet each other in an endless embrace.
Continuing on the Ionian coastline, we recommend a stop at the beautiful beaches of Pescoluse (a Blue Flag winner) and to reach the port city of Gallipoli, one of the most popular destinations in Salento.
Via San Cesario, 31
73100 Lecce LE – Italia
