Defined by German historian Ferdinand Gregorovious the Florence of the Baroque, Lecce is an enchanting
southern Italian town that preserves its original 17th century beauty. Strolling the squares and alleyways, you inevitably feel all the theatrical charm of this architecture with a distinctly Spanish influence dating to the Counter- Reformation.
On the Salentine peninsula it has, moreover, a unique feature: the use of tuff, a friable rock in an elegant white hue, very easy to sculpt and therefore perfect for this intricate style. To take a theme walk through town you should start out from the old circular wall structure and then reach the Duomo Square with picturesque view of magnificent buildings: among others, the Palazzo Vescovile and the Seminario, seat of the prestigious Innocenzian Library. But that’s not all. The entire center is studded with

churches which behind jewel-like façades hide interiors rich in wall frescoes and gold decors: Santa Teresa, Sant’Anna, the Chiesa del Rosario, all the way to Sant’Irene near the Rudiae Gate (boundary point for the ancient Messapican citadel).

A TRIP BACK IN TIME
Lecce also has other fine attractions. Beyond the Baroque architecture and the majestic Santa Croce Basilica – a great Gabriele Riccardi design project begun in the mid 1500s and another absolute must on your itinerary – the city offers further important vestiges of the past. Such as the ancient Roman
Theater on Via di Carta Pesta (in an area full of fascinating papier mache workshops you can visit), the
Amphitheater in an elegant elliptical shape from the Adrianean period, the 16th century Castle designed by Gian

Giacomo dell’Acaja, and the Government Palace (formerly a Celestine convent).

DREAMS OF ART
The place to stay is the Patria-Palace Hotel across from the Santa Croce Church, but be sure to book a room overlooking the rose window of the cathedral. As for restaurants, there’s the Picton where chef Tonio Piceci (author of the “Oltre le orecchiette” cookbook) adds simple new twists to the regional
specialities. The secret is in the basic ingredients, for example the homemade breads and pastas, not to mention the local extravirgin olive oil.
Bon appetit!