Largely built from a gold-coloured stone that was mined from the very ground the city stands upon, Lecce is one of Puglia's stars, and one of Italy’s historic wonders. The ancient centre of Lecce dates as far back as 3rd century BC, and is considered to be one of the finest of any Italian town, with incredible buildings still standing after hundreds - or even thousands – of years.
Dominated by the vast span of an ancient Roman amphitheatre, Lecce’s centro storico is a warren of alleyways, dramatic temples and piazzas waiting to be explored. Notable attractions within this historic maze include Lecce Cathedral – an impressive 12th-century building crowned by a 23-storey campanile, the huge fortified Castle of Charles V, and the Basilica di Santa Croce – a marvellous baroque church that took more than 200 years to complete.
