The ‘Florence of the South’ is one of Puglia’s undeniable gems, offering more than 2,000 years of history and an array of architectural delights. Lecce gained its name under Roman rule and has occupied the same setting ever since, resulting in an outstanding mix of ancient sights throughout the city. Today, this energetic university town is an impressive blend of culture and commerce, with upmarket shopping right alongside baroque monuments. Right at the heart of Lecce is the centro storico, which features an enormous Roman amphitheatre, a towering cathedral and an angular fortress. The true star of the show, though, is the Church of Santa Croce, which is perhaps even more elaborately designed than its namesake in Florence. What makes this district even more impressive is the sheer number of creamy stone buildings – all built using the town’s very own Lecce stone.
If you prefer to spend time shopping, you can find artisan craft shops brushing shoulders with modern clothing outlets and designer jewellers. On the dining front, there are hundreds of restaurants and bars, with many serving authentic fare inspired by the surrounding landscape. You'll also find independent cookery schools and cosmopolitan cocktail bars, which lend the city a refreshingly modern streak in the face of its revered ancient history.
Your plans, our expertise
Start planning your Citalia holiday by getting in touch with one of our Personal Travel Planners.
Lines open: Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:30 (Wednesdays from 9:30), Bank Holidays 10:00 to 16:00.
Flights to Puglia arrive into Bari (BRI) from London Gatwick and London Stansted or Brindisi (BDS) from London Gatwick and Manchester (indirect) and take approximately 3 hours. Please call our Italy Experts in order to book flights to Brindisi.
Visa Information
At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.
Tipping
Whilst tipping isn’t embedded into Italian culture it is always appreciated as an acknowledgement of good service. Nowadays people generally round up a bill in a bar or cafe and leave 5-10% extra on a restaurant bill. Taxi bills are usually also rounded up.
On guided tours/excursions, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide.
On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide at the end of the tour.
Introduction to languages
The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.
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