Free walking tours in Lecce and what to see

Must-sees

Lecce is in the heart of the Salento, the heel of the Italian boot, and is known for its baroque, carved in a pale, soft limestone that allows façades crowded with figures and ornaments. Its emblem is the basilica of Santa Croce, with a façade worth studying at leisure. A few streets away, Piazza del Duomo is an enclosed square bringing together the cathedral, its tall bell tower, the bishop's palace and the seminary.

In Piazza Sant'Oronzo you see at once the column with the patron saint's statue and part of the Roman amphitheatre, half buried beneath the city, and there is also a Roman theatre hidden among the houses. The gates in the walls, such as Porta Napoli, mark the entrances to the old town, and the castle of Charles V stands on its edge. The papier-mâché workshops keep alive a craft closely tied to the city.

Free tours and guided visits

Lecce has no regular free walking tours, but there are guided tours of the centre, including a baroque tour rounded off with the Jewish Museum. There are also food tours by bike or tuk-tuk. To discover the Salento there are trips to Gallipoli, Otranto, Leuca and Galatina, another along the Adriatic coast and another north to Alberobello, Polignano a Mare and Ostuni.

How long to spend

A well-planned day is enough for the old town, Santa Croce, Piazza del Duomo and the Roman remains. Lecce is better with two or three nights, as it is a convenient base for the Salento. You can spend one day on Otranto and the Adriatic coast and another on Gallipoli and the Ionian Sea, both less than an hour's drive away.

Where to stay

It is best to stay inside the old town, where there are guesthouses, apartments and hotels in restored palazzi, and you will see the façades lit up at night. Bear in mind that much of the centre has restricted car access. Just outside the walls, near the station, there are larger hotels, and the surrounding countryside is full of masserie.