Guided visit of Lecce, the Florence of Southern Italy

With our guided visit of Lecce you will discover this city, called the Florence of South Italy, known for its Baroque style. Lecce has been chosen the only Italian city in “Best Travel 2010” by Lonely Planet.

The city, which has strong Messapian roots, was known to its Roman rulers as Lupiae. Today, it welcomes visitors with its magnificent baroque architecture, which blazes on the portals of its palaces and on the facades of the many churches that line the streets inside the city’s three ancient gates: Porta Rudiae, Porta San Biagio and Porta Napoli.

The common factor in the city’s characteristic baroque exuberance is the local “Lecce stone”, so soft and malleable, that master stonecutters were able to create highly sophisticated stone embroidery. The best example of this style is represented by the facade of the Basilica of Santa Croce and by the spectacular Piazza Duomo, home to a soaring bell tower, bishop’s palace, and the lovely Palazzo del Seminario.

Strength and majesty, however, characterize the castle built by Charles V and designed by Gian Giacomo dell’Acaya. The Roman Amphitheatre, adjacent to the central Piazza Sant’Oronzo, offers an intriguing insight into the city’s history.
This is a city of rose windows, stone flourishes, garlands, Solomonic columns, small piazzas, and unexpected alleyways.

The guided tour of Lecce includes:

• • visit to the most beautiful churches and analysis of the Baroque conception of life;
  • visit to the Roman amphitheater and theater;
  • exploration of the charming alleys and small piazzas, where the local Lecce stone glows pink as the sun sets.
  • visit to a Papier Mâché laboratory to see how the statues are built. Lecce has been chosen the only Italian city in “Best Travel 2010” by Lonely Planet.
  • stops to taste one of the best ice-creams in Lecce and the famous ice coffee with almond milk, a typical drink of Lecce