Discovering Lecce

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Wonderful example of a square converted in Baroque style, it opens before us like a wing of a theater, on the left the wonderful late 17th century bell tower built by Giuseppe Zimbalo stands out over the square with its majolica dome; in the center the Cathedral with its façade characterized by a balustrade overlooked by the statue of the protector of the city, Sant'Oronzo, and adorned with flowers, angels and lanceolate points, a sublime example of fanzaghesco baroque; the Episcopio with the portico in propylaea, an admirable work by Emanuele Manieri; on the right the Palazzo del Seminario with its rustication and its eclectic baroque, the work of Giuseppe Cino. (Visit outside)

   20 min

2. the arena dating back to the first century AD.C. half brought to light at the beginning of the last century, we will admire the imposing architecture of the cavea, the stands, the rampant arches, the balteus, a jewel in the heart of the historic center of Lecce

   20 min

3. World masterpiece of Baroque art, its sublime facade is dedicated to the Battle of Lepanto, and represents the ideal triumph of the Christian and Western European world; the sumptuous decorations and the many symbols fascinate the eye and raise the spirituality even today. (Visit outside)

   20 min

4. Heart of the city, the ancient Piazza dei Mercadanti of the '700 still finds the signs of its past linked to the influence of the Maritime Republic of Venice, with the Palazzo del Sedile, seat of exhibitions and city assemblies, and with the adjoining church of Saint Mark; the square flanks the ancient Roman Amphitheater, half revealed, a gem set among Baroque, Art Nouveau, Rationalist and Venetian palaces.

   20 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 304 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Lecce

• Its from-price is 77% below the median of the 315 experiences we list in Lecce.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 11 of 315.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Lecce

Lecce is a Baroque city in Italy's heel, built in honey-coloured limestone and carved with flowers, animals and saints on every façade.

Lecce's soft local limestone could be carved like wood, and the architects of the seventeenth century used it to cover churches and palaces in garlands, cherubs, animals and plants, a style called Leccese Baroque. The Basilica of Santa Croce has the richest façade, and the Piazza del Duomo is a closed square with a campanile. A Roman amphitheatre lies half uncovered in Piazza Sant'Oronzo, and the city is sometimes called the Florence of the South.

Top-ranked sights in Lecce: Lecce Basilica of Santa Croce (Basilica Di Santa Croce), Lecce Roman Amphitheatre (Anfiteatro Romano di Lecce), Porta Napoli.

See all 315 experiences in Lecce