Ba-Rock-ing Lecce

European Travel Magazine / 16. March 2018

Lecce is often called “Florence of the South”, but this Baroque pearl is so much more than a southern version of the capital of the Renaissance up north. It’s an attraction in it own right and its wonderful Baroque architecture, bright buildings, airy plazas and relaxed ambiance makes it one of our favourite cities in Italy. Lecce just rocks!

The beautiful Palazzo dei Celestini

Lecce is magical in the evening

The rich baroque architecture defines this city

Everywhere you look, elegant buildings look back at you

The young generation blows life into Lecce

It’s only because Lecce is tucked away down south, in the heel of Italy, in the blue-sky-and-turquoise-waters region of Puglia, that it’s not over flooded with tourists. Sure, in the summertime, Puglia – and in particular the region of Salento – has become the preferred place of vacation for Italians, and who can blame them, with turquoise waters and white beaches looking like the Maldives. But from April to June and again from September to November, you enjoy between 20 and 30 degrees celsius during the day and even warm enough bathing temperatures to go for a dip.

And when you’ve driven along the rugged Adriatic coastline to the east the whole day, or soaked in the sun on a white beach at the Ionian sea to the west, head for Lecce, where polished marble pavement reflects the rays of the sinking sun and the scream of swallows echoes through the streets.

With all this historic architecture, shiny streets and elegant air to it, you could fear that Lecce was a dusty, lifeless museum of a city. But thanks to the university, the streets are alive with young people and music in the evening. Pleasant enotecas, cool cocktail bars and trendy restaurants cater to the young generation, while home-cooking in family-run trattorias and mouth-watering pastries are on display in the local pasticceria. New and old blend and complement each other in perfect harmony.

Take a walk with us through the ba-rock-ingly beautiful Lecce:

: Elegant Porta San Biagio greets visitors arriving from south-east

: Imposing Porta Napoli greets visitors arriving from west

: Chiesa di Sant’Angelo

: You encounter Chiesa di Santa Irene on your way to the Cathedral

: The doors of Chiesa di Santa Irene are often open

: Sit in the golden gleam of the streetlights and watch the nightlife unfold

: Piazza Del Duomo is filled with bright buildings

: The Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta and its elaborate facade

: Side aisle of the cathedral wonderfully illuminated

: The high altar, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin is in polychrome marble

: The 12 side altars have twisted columns rich of flowers, birds and fruit in abundance

: Are you looking at the Angels or are they looking at you?

: The lanterns match the rich Baroque architecture

: Caritas Diocesana to the right of the Cathedral forms part of this grand structure

: The yellow streetlights of Lecce bathes the marble in golden colours in the evening

: The many cats are surprisingly fluffy for southern felines

: Gesuiti Chiesa Del Gesu’ is is inspired by the Church of Jesus in Rome

: The broken tympanum shows the emblem of the Society of Jesus protected by two angel

: Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angeli has both Renaissance and Baroque elements

: Its columns are decorated with floral motifs

: The golden streetlights play with the Baroque motifs

: Basilica of Santa Croce with its famous rose window

: Interior of Basilica of Santa Croce

: The Baroque side chapels are a feast for the eyes

: The open, bright and airy main square Piazza Sant’Oronzo

: A stroll through the streets of Lecce in the evening can turn into a shopping spree

: Chiesa di Santa Chiara was built in 1429–1438 and rebuilt in 1687

: Chiesa Parrocchiale San Matteo

: The intriguing facade is partly concave, partly convex

: The interior has a unique elliptical plan, with side walls punctuated by short chapels with altars

: Many shops open after the afternoon break called “riposo” and stay open until 8 or 9 in the evening

: Porta Rudiae guarding the south-west corner of the historical centre

: The frowning mouths of Palazzo Tresca

: The Chiesa e Convento della Madre di Dio might not look like a church, but its main portal is equally impressive

: On the high altar there is a painting painted by Giovanni Andrea Coppola depicting the Mother of God with Saint Nicholas and Saint Joseph

: Chiesa Del Carmine forms part of the former Carmelite convent, now University of Salento

: The church literally overflows with Baroque opulence

: There are so many details to gawp at in Lecce

: Not only churches are richly decorated, as the front door of Palazzo Flanconieri testifies

: Legend says, that anyone who passed under Arco Di Prato could not be arrested

: Sometimes you just need an army of angels holding up your balcony, right?

: The streets are full of cosy bars where you can enjoy a glass of wine or a beer

: Especially Via Umberto I is lively and charming in the evening

: You come across so many beautiful palazzi on your stroll through the city

: While Baroque is the dominant architecture in Lecce, we did come across this beautiful Art nouveau building just outside the historical centre

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