Leece is known as the ‘Florence of the South’ in Italy. There are so many incredible things to do in Lecce. The city of Lecce is located within the region of Lecce, which is also located in the region known as Salento within Puglia in Italy.
I spent just over two months in July and August using Lecce as my base while I was in Puglia and I must say, I completely fell in love with this beautiful, vibrant and super romantic city. Lecce honestly feels like my Italian home and I hope to keep returning again and again throughout my life!
Lecce is located inland and is very well connected to the rest of the region (and Italy in general). It is almost halfway between the east and west coasts making it the perfect base for a vacation in Puglia.
What Lecce is most famous for, however, is its baroque architecture in its dazzling and golden old town (Centro Storico).
It is one of the biggest cities in Puglia, yet it is easily walkable (if you are staying in or near the Centro Storico). It has certainly retained its ornate and elegant charm.
Lecce is filled with beautiful churches, ancient palaces and squares, vibrant cafes and restaurants, amazing shops and all-around pristine vibes that will be sure to totally enchant you.
If you are craving that classic, romantic and alluring atmosphere that is synonymous with Italy but in a truly authentic way, then Lecce is for you! Lecce truly is a hidden gem when it comes to the international stage for tourism in Italy and it is a place you do not want to miss.
On top of all of that, Leccians are friendly, happy and helpful. Most of them don’t speak much English but it really doesn’t matter.
Lecce is simply a remarkable city and is still relatively untouched by mass tourism. Continue reading to learn 12 of the best things to do in Lecce which I discovered after living there for a couple of months.
1. Wander around the Piazza del Duomo
Lecce’s Piazza del Duomo is one of the most impressive Baroque squares in Salento and is certainly one of the best things to do in Lecce. To be honest it would be hard to miss!
This is a large square that is enclosed on three sides with one entrance from Vittorio Emanuele II.
When you stumble across this square on a stroll, you’ll know you’ve landed somewhere special.
Inside this square, you will find several important sites including the Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption, Lecce’s Duomo, The Bishop’s Palace, The Seminary Palace and The Bell Tower.
PRO TIP: If you are in Lecce during high season, it can get CROWDED AF in the Duomo and the streets surrounding it. This makes it hard to get good pictures! All you have to do to get around this, even in the height of the season, is to go around 7-8 am. There will be no one there and the light from the rising sun will blow your mind.
2. Visit Lecce’s Baroque Churches
Lecce has a vast number of breathtaking churches to visit (22 to be exact). They’re simply stunning from the outside, but also incredibly special when you take the time to see the inside as well.
Lecce’s churches are decorated in the same baroque architectural style. This is a very opulent and flamboyant style of architecture that became very popular in Florence and Rome in the 17th and 18th centuries.
PRO TIP: Visit Lecce instead of Florence to soak in all the beautiful architecture minus the intense crowds!
There are a handful of churches that you simply MUST visit when you are in Lecce. Visit them all and get familiar with this stunning style of architecture while soaking up all the ancient energy instilled in every stone.
Top must-see church in Lecce: Basilica di Santa Croce
This is the most famous and aesthetically grand baroque church to visit in Lecce and cannot be missed. When you turn the corner towards Via Umberto I and see the majesty of the architecture of this grand structure you will be blown away.
Take the time to visit the church during the day but also be sure to return in the evening when the street becomes a vibrant scene with bars and restaurants.
Other must-see churches in Lecce
- Chiesa di Santa Chiara
- Chiesa di San Mateo
- The Duomo and its crypt
Best way to visit all of the churches and monuments
The best way to visit all of the most important churches listed above is to buy a bundle ticket, known as the Church Path for just €11.
The ticket includes access to:
- Basilica di Santa Croce
- Chiesa di Santa Chiara
- Chiesa di San Mateo
- The Duomo and its crypt
- The Seminary Museum
- The Museum of Sacred Art
For an extra €10 you will also get access to the Bell Tower in Duomo Square mentioned in number 1.
You can buy the ticket online here or in person at the Seminary Museum on the right of the Piazza del Duomo.
Full disclosure – I didn’t actually go inside any of the churches myself. It’s just not my thing to pay for tickets to go to churches! But I did walk by all of them on my multiple Lecce tours and they were simply beautiful at all times of the day & night. Basilica di Santa Croce was particularly stunning.
PRO TIP: After dinner go to Martin or Badu for gelator and walk to Santa Croce and enjoy your gelato on the steps of the Basilica and just soak it all in.
3. Wander around the Piazza Sant’Oronzo
The Piazza Sant’Oronzo is a bustling square in Lecce, making it the focal point of the historical centre.
Here you will find incredible shops, cafes, restaurants, amazing gelato (try Martinucci Laboratory), Gallerias and of course people watching.
The biggest features of the square are the Colonna di Sant’Oronzo statue and the Roman Amphitheatre.
At the end of August, there is a festival in Lecce and the whole square lights up with impressive lights and parades!
4. Visit the Roman Amphitheatre & Roman Theatre
The Roman Amphitheatre as mentioned above is located in the Piazza Sant’Oronzo square, although you would be forgiven for missing it! It can be viewed from the street (Via Vito Fazzi) and looks out on the square. Only one of the tiers still stands but it is thought to have once held up to 15,000 people and was discovered by chance in 1901.
There is also a second, lesser-known Roman ruin in Lecce called The Roman Theatre (Teatro Romano on Google Maps). This amphitheatre is hidden among the side streets that were built on top of it and is a popular cat hang-out. This theatre was rediscovered less than 100 years ago in 1929.
Both ruins date back to the 2nd century.
You will be more likely to stumble up the Roman Amphitheatre as you explore Lecce however to find the Roman Theatre you will most likely need to see it out.
5. Explore the alleyways of the Historical Centre in the morning (and evening).
To be completely honest the Centro Storico is absolutely magical at all times of the day and night. Each brings a completely different vibe and energy – some places are completely unrecognisable. However, wandering through the golden city during the golden hour is truly magical. The way the pink light of the sun hits the buildings is a photographer’s dream. Go in the morning to get the iconic Instagram shots and go in the evening to soak in the buzzing atmosphere on your way to choose the perfect spot for Apertivo. Then make sure you wander around again after dark (more on this below) with all of the twinkling lights and restaurants that come alive (FYI dinner doesn’t start til after 9pm in Puglia).
Another tip for exploring the Centro Storico is to go off the main pedestrian streets and sneak through the winding alleyways. There will be barely any people and you will get to see the cute nooks and crannies of the place and maybe even stumble across a hidden cafe or bar!
Try not to have a plan or a route of where you want to go and just start walking around, taking turns down the different streets you stumble upon and see what treasures you have to find.
6. Visit Lecce’s Palaces
Lecce is also famous for its lavish palaces which used to be homes of nobility. These days some of these impressive buildings are open to visitors while others have turned into luxury hotels (how awesome would it be to stay in one!). Here are a few Palaces to stumble across in Lecce:
- Palazzo dei Celestini: This is a local government house but you can still walk into the inner courtyard.
- Palazzo Vernazza: This is the most famous palace in Lecce and it is open to visitors. You can buy a ticket for €10 here.
- Palazzo Luce
- Palazzo Bernardini
- These two are now luxury hotels that you can peak into
7. Visit Museo Faggiano
This is one of the most fascinating museums to visit in Lecce due to the story of how it came about. In 2001 when the owner (Faggiano) broke into his floor to fix a sewage issue to renovate his house to open a restaurant, he discovered extensive Roman remains which are 2,500 years old.
Instead of opening a restaurant, Faggiano excavated the site and turned it into a private museum. It took 7 years to excavate the site which can now be visited today. Here you’ll find cisterns, secret passageways, frescos, tombs and many layers and hidden treasures.
8. Walk by the Lecce Portas or City Gates
There are three prominent and impressive ‘gates’ that mark the beginning of the historical centre. These three remaining gates date back to the 16th century and once would have been linked by city walls.
The three gates are:
- Porta Napoli: This is the main city gate dating back to 1548. This is a spectacular gate to see at sunset and after dark.
- Porta Rudiae: This is the oldest and most elaborate gate. It is the start of the main street that goes all the way to Piazza Sant’Oronzo. You will pass many amazing shops, restaurants, churches and attractions along the way (oh and a lot of people in high season!).
- Porta San Biagio: This gate is located in the south and is close to many attractions in Lecce. There is also a really nice cafe just outside this gate called Pasticceria Pinti. Chow down on excellent cornettos (croissants), amazing coffee and other delights while marvelling at the surroundings (and doing some great people watching too!).
10. Wander the Historic Centre at night & indulge in Italian cuisine
Leece is a must-visit for lovers of Italian cuisine!
Wandering the streets and alleyways of the Centro Storico during summer evenings and eyeing up what restaurant to go to in itself is one of the best things to do in Lecce. The city comes alive as the sun goes down. Expect a romantic atmosphere, well-dressed people and beautiful outdoor seating tucked around every corner. Lecce comes alive in all the best ways around dinner time. Pack appropriate attire (or indulge in some Italian shopping) because you will want to dress up after seeing the way the Italians do evening wear. They do live up to the stereotype! I have to admit that I bought a lot of clothes when I was there, I couldn’t resist.
The food in Lecce is amazing and so it is likely that any restaurant you choose will give you an incredible gastronomical experience. Be sure to get a taste of locally grown wine, which you can always order by the glass, olive oil and local Puglian dishes (which you will enjoy discovering yourself!).
On hot sunny afternoons, nothing beats an Aperol Spritz followed by an Italian Gelato. All of which is in abundance in Lecce!
The most well-known dish is the rustico leccese which is a savoury street food pastry snack with mozzarella and tomato. Another dish unique to the Lecce region is Frise which is like a toasted bread topped with tomatoes, rocket and olive oil.
Some of my favourite places to eat & drink in Lecce were:
- Pizza & Co (casual dining): For life-changing pizza in a casual setting (it’s sold by the slice) you must go to Pizza & Co. Do not leave Lecce without trying the Scarpariello pizza! They also shockingly have a vegan option!
- La Bottega del corso: The bruschetta that changed the world.
- Mezzo Spirito – Cibi e Miscele: For the Foccacia
- Animaterrae: For something a bit fancy
- Le Zie Trattoria Casereccia: For local food & family run vibes
- Drinker cocktail bar: Best cocktails in Lecce IMO
- Gelato:
- Baldo Gelato: Great quality, good vegan selection and right by the Santa Croce Cathedral
- Gelatario 🍦 Gelateria naturale: Truly authentic and natural ingredients. Mind-blowing flavours, I believe this is real gelato not the showy stuff for tourists. The pistachio flavour WILL change your life.
- Martinucci Laboratory: Beautiful Gelato and pastry shop right on the main square. This one is nice, shiny and flashy for tourists with elaborate displays of gelato and desserts. So many flavours, it is so hard to choose, so you need to come back a few times. Multiple options for hazelnut & chocolate which of course is the absolute best for me! You can also sit down and order off a menu. I highly recommend coming here for a Caffe Leccese (iced espresso with hazelnut syrup – my Puglian coffee obsession) and a pasticciotto one slow morning. This is a typical Italian breakfast, while it isn’t exactly nourishing you need to try it. The pasticciotto from this place, in my opinion, was the best I tried.
- Pasticceria Pinti: This cafe had the best cappuccinos and a great selection of sweet and savoury pastries (I prefer pasticciotto from the place mentioned above however. The location of this cafe just outside the Porta alone makes it worth a visit.
I certainly didn’t eat at every restaurant but I listed above pretty much all the ones I did eat at because they were ALL truly exceptional. I honestly got emotional quite often after a meal because it was just too good. The food standards are SO HIGH it’s honestly unreal.
I need to do a separate post on the food scene in Lecce and also tips on how to get away with being vegan and vegetarian – it’s not straightforward but it is definitely possible.
BONUS Restaurant tips
Because Lecce isn’t hugely famous internationally, there aren’t really those tourist trap restaurants you find in Rome. Yes, some are certainly better than others (side note I am vegetarian so restaurants that focus on meat won’t feature here!), but it’s not a huge issue like in other cities. It was also interesting to observe how people rate restaurants very harshly in Italy. Unsurprisingly, Google review ratings tend to be a lot lower across the board than in other countries – for example, if there is a 4.5-star restaurant in Athens, a restaurant of equivalent quality in Lecce might only be 3 stars so keep that in mind when you are looking at Google reviews!
11. Take beautiful photos
Your camera battery will be seriously drained while you are in Lecce. Around every corner, you will find beautiful photo opportunities.
Once you share your photos, you will certainly inspire people to want to visit Lecce too (maybe just don’t show everyone!!).
Photos look incredible (and also incredibly different) in the historical centre at any hour of the day or night.
Even photos with lots of people in them look great at the busier times of the day because you will discover that Italians LOVE to dress up and always look incredible. This just adds to the atmosphere and the nice photos.
I always said to myself that there should actually be a dress code for tourists in Italy so they don’t spoil my photos! You can always spot a dork tourist from a mile away!
12. Explore other parts of Puglia on day trips
Lecce is a great base to explore other parts of Puglia. This is what I did during my 2-month stay and I was able to see all of the places on my list in the region with relative ease. It was incredible and I am definitely obsessed with Puglia. Many places can be visited in one day. Before deciding where to go, it is essential to check the direction of the wind!
I did however do a couple of overnight trips to Alberobello and Matera. I didn’t have a car and so going by the train timetable limited what time I could leave and I absolutely knew I wanted to see a sunset and a sunrise in both places and so I stayed for one night!
Here are some amazing of my favourite places you can take day trips to from Lecce:
- Otranto
- Torre Dell Orso
- Polignano a Mare
- Monopoli
- Ostuni
- Alberobello
- Locorotondo
- Castro
- Santa Cesarea Terme
- Santa Maria de Leuca
- Nardo: Shout out to Caffe Parisi in Nardo – increible food & gelato – the kind that made me emotional.
- Matera
How to get around
Train
The northern part of Puglia above Lecce can be travelled to via a pretty great train network. There are great connections to all the main places you’d want to visit in Bari & Brindisi.
Bus
The Salento Peninsula is well-connected to Lecce via bus routes during the summer months.
You can use Google Maps and/or Omio to get information on public transport the bus routes to take however always find the actual bus timetable (especially for the Salento by Bus network) for the year you are there and so by that like it’s a bible. The timetables on Google Maps were not accurate and they change each year. Buses aren’t overly frequent so you do need to plan accordingly and buy tickets online in advance.
Car
The fastest and easiest way to get around Puglia is by rental car. However, this isn’t an option for everyone so it is good to know that you can still get to all of the main places in Puglia with public transport! Also, the driving is pretty nuts and parking is a nightmare (and surprisingly expensive) so I was quite happy to not have this burden. But if you visit outside of peak season a car will be essential.
How to get to Lecce
The easiest way to get to Lecce is to fly into Bari or Brindisi.
From Bari
From Bari, you need to catch two trains. One short ride to the Centrale and then another train to Lecce Centrale. Tickets can be purchased from the train station. The trains are easy to navigate, organised and not too crowded so is a good option with luggage
From Brindisi
From Brindisi, you can get a bus directly from the airport to Lecce Centrale or you can a bus to the train station and take the train. See whether the bus stop or train station is closer to your accommodation
From Lecce Centrale, you will most likely be able to take a short walk to your accommodation. Taxis are expensive! If you are staying in the Centro Storico, you will need to walk to your accommodation anyway because no cars are permitted inside (you see a lof of tourists walking around with suitcases so bear this in mind – it is physically tough, especially in summer).
The best time to visit Lecce
The best time to visit Lecce is between May and October. July and August are the hottest, busiest and most expensive months as the rest of Italy descends on Puglia for a holiday. This does add to the great vibes though!
I actually can’t imagine going any other time of year now! There were also so many festivals and celebrations happening all the time. Everyone was out and about having such a great time on holiday – the mood was electric.
However, for the calmest weather and calmest vibes, while it still being lively, the most ideal months to visit are May – June and September – October.
During the winter months, Lecce turns into a bit of a ghost town with many shops and restaurants closed. It definitely wouldn’t have the same vibrant atmosphere if you visit during these months but it would still be beautiful.
