It is the style of the 17th century par excellence, with its irregular shapes, the richness of elements, the exuberant, extravagant lines: it is the style of the monuments in the old city of Lecce, baroque city par excellence. Extremely beautiful, the magnificence of the city is exalted by the Lecce stone, finely engraved by the artists of that period, a very pliable stone, with a warm colour. Let the marvellous shapes tantalize us, starting out itinerary in the city from the Church of Santa Croce, symbol of the baroque style in Lecce, made by three popular architects: Gabriele Riccardi, Cesare Penna and Francesco Antonio Zimbalo. The façade is full of different elements, anthropomorphic figures, animals, plants, holy statues and the great rose window with pomegranates, grapes, winged cherubs, allegories of the seasons, with the wheel, symbol of life. Let's proceed along via Vittorio Emanuele to visit the Church of Jesus,
popular for its high altar by Giuseppe Cino, one of the most popular baroque architects, together with Zimbalo. Let's go to piazza Sant'Oronzo, which owes its name to the statue of the patron saint towering on top of a column erected in 1666 in the square, overlooked by the Church of the Graces with two, big tympani, a circular and a triangular one, while, not far away, stands the Church of Sant'Irene, known by the inhabitants of Lecce as the Church of the Theatines, with beautiful baroque altars. Let's not forget the Duomo and its magnificent bell tower. The church, built by Zimbalo, has two façades, a lateral one with rich decorations, and a more sober, frontal one, facing the square. The same architect erected the Church of the Rosary, as well, at the end of via Libertini.

The baroque style in Lecce, full of folk symbols, is magnificently expressed through the civil monuments, the aristocratic buildings, even though not as lavishly as in the churches. The buildings are shaped up by a folk tradition rooted in the Mediterranean culture, with fruit baskets, horns of plenty, lustful or grotesque figures and symbols of the fertility of the land. Palazzo Loffredo Adorno, in via Umberto I in front of the church of Santa Croce, is a popular example, with its elegant yard with a loggia.
In via Umberto I, we can also see Palazzo dei Celestini, erected in 1695, with a sophisticated façade with two orders of windows surrounded by richly decorated frames. The portal of Palazzo Leccio, in via Libertini, is finely decorated too, while the double lancet windows of palazzo Paladini in via Principe di Savoia were made by Zimbalo. Let's move to piazza Falconari, where we can admire the caryatids of Palazzo Marrese, embellished by the vaults framing the portal. Another great architect, Giuseppe Cino, who engraved angels and flowers, made the capital of the portal in Palazzo Mettola. Important example of the baroque period is also the Castle of Carlo V ; although more ancient, its façade was reconstructed with this lavish and exuberant style, by Gian Giacomo dell'Acaja, who died in the dungeons of the same castle. Palazzo del Seminario, is considered as one of the best examples of baroque style in Lecce; it was designed by Giuseppe Cino, who embellished it with friezes and columns.
Let's not forget the popular finely sculpted well, in the yard

Style and elegance of the Mediterranean taste are elements you can find at the Picton, one of the most popular restaurants in Lecce. A great genuine culinary tradition is interpreted by the creative imagination of the chef, who creates new recipes from the traditional Lecce cuisine. The collection of vintage wines is impressive as well, with a rich selection of local and popular national wines.

Lecce was founded a long time ago, during the Messapian period, as we can see from some graves, with funeral outfits, dating back to the 5th and 4th century BC, found in the basement of Palazzo Palmieri, and the walls coinciding with the fortifications commissioned by Carlo V.With the Roman domination, the Messapians were slowly driven away, and Lecce became a roman city, reaching its peak during the Augustan period. Strolling down the old city, we can see some monuments showing its glorious past. Let's reach piazza Sant'Oronzo where there is the most important roman monument of the city, built under Hadrian's empire: the Roman Amphitheatre, enormous structure dating back to the 2nd century, of which, today, we can still admire the arena and the lower order of the terraces. The square changed its aspect many times during the centuries and during the Middle Ages it was covered and used as a market with many stores, when it was called Piazza dei mercanti (Merchant's Square). The archaeological excavations of the beginning of the 20th century unearthed this important remain of the period when Lecce was known as ”Lupiae“. On top of the amphitheatre stands a curious monument, one of the most popular symbols in Lecce: the Sedile, a building with glass windows where meetings and hearings were held, to guarantee the transparency of the administration. In the middle of the square stands the Column of Sant'Oronzo, made in Roman period as well, on which the statue of the patron saint of the city was collocated, later on. Let's proceed through via Augusto to reach the Roman Theatre, excavated at the beginning of the 20th century, and then let's go to Porta Rudiae, one of the accesses of the city, the door which led to the city of Rudiae, Roman municipium.

Lecce, during the centuries, was a land of conquest, where many civilizations, from the Byzantine to the Norman, the Angevin and the Spanish, and dynasties settled. These cultures left many traces in the city, from an artistic and architectural point o view. Let's start from the Church of Saints Nicolò and Cataldo, near the entrance of the highway. Although the church has a medieval plan, Giuseppe Cino made its façade with a baroque style in the 18th century. Next to it stands another popular building, the Convent of the Olivetans, where, in the cloister, there is a Renaissance well covered by a nice aedicule with twisted columns. After the visit to the church, let's proceed towards the old city. Along the way we can see the Obelisk, dedicated to Ferdinando I when he visited Lecce in 1822. Opposite the monument there is Porta Napoli, a monument known as Triumphal Arch, built in 1548 to celebrate emperor Carlo V, thanks to whom the city became a thriving cultural, architectural and urban centre. The Castle and the fortifications commissioned by the emperor date back to the same period. While kings dominated the city, one after the other, the commercial exchanges between Byzantines, Venetians, Genoese people and Florentine, who came to the city for trade, were flourishing. The presence of some buildings shows how important these communities were, like the Church of San Marco, in piazza Sant'Oronzo, built by the Venetians; the lion on the building is the symbol of the supremacy of the Republic of Venice.

The season at the Paisiello Theatre is very prestigious. While you are visiting the city, you should spend a suggestive evening in this beautiful 19th century building. Then, you can have dinner at the Plaza a restaurant serving the traditional dishes of the cuisine in Lecce.

Let's delve into the history of Lecce at the Sigismondo Castromediano Province Museum. It is the most ancient museum in Puglia, and, originally, it was situated in the Convent of the Celestines. Inside, there are most of the historical and archaeological findings showing the different periods of the city. Some were excavated in archaeological sites in the area, like the one of the ancient Rudiae, Messapian city, which became roman, some come from donations of private collectors. Interesting is the section dedicated to the palaeontologic age, with several findings excavated all over the region. The same building contains also the Picture Gallery, with works showing the influences of the Venetian and Byzantine style on the artistic heritage of Lecce. Another interesting collection of painting can be admired at the Franciscan Picture Gallery, in the Convent of the Minorites, originally a 16th-century building, Palazzo Fulgenzio della Monica, given by the family to the brotherhood in the 19th century, containing more than one hundred holy paintings. Finally, in the same convent, there is the Natural History and Chinese Missionary Museum with bronze ivory objects, musical instruments, chinaware, in the first section, and an interesting collection of sea fossils and mineral, in the second.

If you want to know more about the history of the city through the habits and the tradition of the people, you have to visit the Cerrate Abbey, situated sixteen kilometres from Lecce. The Abbey is really ancient and, according to the legend, it was founded by Tancredi d'Altavilla, a Norman King, when the Virgin Mary miraculously appeared during a hunt. This place became an important Byzantine religious centre, then it was abandoned and today it contains the Provincial Museum of Folk Traditions in Salento , with objects and tools of the peasants. Many holidays and celebration in the city as well commemorate and celebrate important traditions, like the Sant'Oronzo Festival, the patron saint of the city, celebrated on 26th August, or the Lu Riu of Lecce, celebrated every Tuesday after Easter with performances in medieval costumes and an exhibition of ancient jobs, now disappeared. Finally, we cannot omit the Pizzica, symbol of the local folklore par excellence, a traditional dance with legendary origins, made in many different holidays and festivals in the province of Lecce, when the drummers gather, creating the hectic rhythm of the tarantula bite.

Let's choose a suggestive place out of town for dinner: the Castello Monaci. It is an ancient 17th-century fortress surrounded by a wide park, with one of the most renowned restaurants in the area. Elegant and cosy, this is the ideal lace for a relaxing time and, with a good weather, you can even eat outside.