Lecce is the capital of Leccese Baroque — a unique 17th-18th century style in lecce stone (soft limestone, honey-coloured, workable like butter) that has transformed every city facade into a sculpture. The Basilica di Santa Croce is the masterpiece. The Salento (Puglia's southern tip) has the crystal-clear beaches of the central-eastern Mediterranean. Brindisi airport (BDS) 40km away — bus to Lecce (€5, 45 min). From Bari: 1h 30' by train (€10).
Lecce: Baroque and Pasticciotto
The Basilica di Santa Croce (free) and Piazza del Duomo are Leccese Baroque's masterpieces. Castello di Carlo V (€4) and Piazza Sant'Oronzo (with the half-submerged 2nd-century AD Roman amphitheatre) complete the centre. Leccese pasticciotto (shortcrust pastry with custard and sour cherry, hot at 7:00) from Ascalone or Natale is the identity sweet. Caffè leccese (cold espresso with almond milk — a local summer Puglian invention) is the identity drink.
Otranto, Gallipoli and Salento Beaches
Otranto (40km from Lecce) has the Cathedral mosaic floor (12th century, 54m, Europe's largest, free) and the Aragonese Castle on the harbour. Gallipoli (38km, Ionian shore) has the historic centre on an island connected by a bridge — the Neretina riviera (Baia Verde, Punta della Suina) has the finest beaches of the Adriatic-Ionian Salento. Capo di Leuca (75km, the tip) is where the Adriatic meets the Ionian — the lighthouse and Finibus Terrae sanctuary. Porto Cesareo (marine reserve, 35km from Lecce) has the Salento Ionian's most crystal-clear water.
Practical tips
The mosaic floor of Otranto Cathedral (54m, 12th century) is among Italy's most extraordinary things — very few people know it
Pasticciotto is eaten hot at 7:00 — not the cold one in the afternoon display case
Plan your Lecce and Salento weekend
Baroque, crystal-clear sea and pasticciotto — itinerary in 5 minutes.
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