Italy
PUGLIA – LECCE AND SURROUNDINGS
- 4 days
- couples
- spring, summer, fall
A relaxing few days in beautiful Puglia. Ideal for relaxing or taking a break from everyday worries. Spend three nights in the beautiful city of Lecce, full of Baroque monuments. Make short excursions to the surrounding towns, cities or villages. See the shores of two seas, the Adriatic and the Ionian. And taste lots of local food! You will visit many sights, especially beautiful churches and majestic cathedrals, but also several castles! You can take a short trip to the countryside along the seashore. Puglia is simply a place where you can slow down and let time pass. The ideal time to travel to Puglia is spring and autumn.
Sightseeing in Lecce – Duomo di Lecce, Basilica di Santa Croce, the beautiful Chiesa di San Matteo, the excellent Jewish Museum Lecce, and possibly the Anfiteatro Romano. A trip to the town of Gallipoli on the shores of the Ionian Sea. Evening: town of Nardo.
After breakfast, embark on a sightseeing tour of Lecce. The historic centre isn't particularly large, so you'll be able to see the main sights by early afternoon. You shouldn't miss the Duomo di Lecce, the gorgeously decorated Basilica di Santa Croce, and the Chiesa di San Matteo, as well as the excellent Jewish Museum Lecce, and the Anfiteatro Romano. While sightseeing, stop by the Caffè Alvino and have one of their great desserts. It’s hard to advise on where to go for lunch, the range of restaurants in Lecce is really great. But if you're craving fish, try going to La Scarpetta Ristorante Lecce. It was a bit pricey, but the food was very good!
Later in the afternoon, drive over to the town of Gallipoli on the Ionian coast. It's not too far (route). In Gallipoli you'll find a beautiful historic centre, great views of the sea and the islet of Isola Sant'Andrea with its lighthouse. Be sure to stop at the truly magnificent Basilica Concattedrale di Sant'Agata and check out Gallipoli Castle. Sit down for a glass of wine or coffee at Buena Vista Gallipoli. It is a bit overpriced, but the views are great!
Then you'll transfer to the small town of Nardo with its beautiful historic centre. It's ideal to arrive here in the evening, everything is nicely lit and has a charming atmosphere. The route is here. Take a look at the historic centre and don't miss the Basilica cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta and then the beautiful Chiesa di San Domenico. It's not a long drive back to Lecce (route).
If you like meat, then be sure to have dinner at La Locanda Del Macellaio. It was originally a butcher's shop and now it's a whole chain of great restaurants, there are eight overall – and two of them are in Lecce. We chose the one on Via Taranto. First you choose the meat or sausages you want, then you just sit down, have some wine and everything will be brought to you in a moment. It's really great. Don't forget to have their baked potato! And beware – reservations are usually required!
Alternatives: Lecce is a beautiful city full of sights and one of Velo Service Lecce's tours will help you get to know them all.
The Basilica of Santa Croce, the monastery church of the Celestine Fathers, was built between 1549 until 1646. The building is gorgeous and is rightly the symbol of the Lecce Baroque. The exterior and interior decoration will literally take your breath away. There is an entrance fee.
The museum has a permanent exhibition "Under the Baroque: discovering medieval Jewish Lecce". The tour is only possible with a guide. The tour is not very long, but it is very informative. The guides are very friendly and helpful. The tours in English take place only a few times a day, check everything on their website.
The exact dating of the building, which was used for gladiatorial fights and demonstrations of live hunters, is still debated, but the most accredited hypothesis dates the original building to the time of Augustus. The building could hold an incredible 14,000 spectators.
It's often very crowded, but you can buy a few pieces of sweet desserts to go. They're great. It's open almost all the time.
The church was built between 1667 and 1700. The main altar, named after San Matteo, is a special example of the Lecce Baroque style for its rich decoration.
The restaurant has mostly fish on the menu. Nice garden inside the block of houses. There is even a view into the kitchen so you can see your meal being prepared. A little pricey, but the fish was great.
Beautiful baroque cathedral with really nice interior decoration. The most beautiful, however, is the imposing entrance made of Lecce stone, which is a wonderful example of Baroque art. The Baroque appearance of the cathedral dates back to 1670. The bell tower next door was built between 1661 and 1682. There is a charge for entry to the cathedral.
Gallipoli is a small town in southern Puglia on the shores of the Ionian Sea. The old town can be found on a small island, which is connected to the mainland by a 16th century stone bridge. The main sights include the Basilica Concattedrale di Sant'Agata and Gallipoli Castle. In the old town you will find a typical tangle of small streets with shops, cafés, and bars.
Bar, café, restaurant – all in one. I recommend it just for a coffee or a drink – even then, be careful, as it's not cheap here at all. But the view from the terrace is great, so it's worth sitting here, having a glass of wine, and just watching the sea.
A majestic cathedral in Baroque style with beautiful interior paintings. The foundation stone of the building was laid in 1629 and it was not completed until 1696. The cathedral is very much drowned in the surrounding buildings, so the magnificent facade is not quite visible.
The history of this fortification dates back to 265 BC. But of course, the castle has undergone many modifications and reconstructions over time. The current appearance dates back to the 16th century. You can buy an audio guide with your ticket. This is not necessary as there are descriptions in each room. The castle is also rather austere in terms of furnishings.
Nardò is not a typical tourist destination. However, that makes it all the more attractive. The city centre is full of churches, palaces, and monuments in the style of the Lecce Baroque. There are over 30,000 inhabitants, but the historical centre is not very big, you can walk through the whole of it easily.
The cathedral stands on the site where the first church was built in 1080. In the 15th century the church was made into a cathedral. The current appearance dates back to 1725. Inside there are some nice frescoes.
Nice church both from the outside and the inside. Especially interesting is the Bull Fountain on the north side of the church, because according to legends, the first settlement of Nardò was in a place where a bull summoned spring water with its hoof in the ground.
It was originally a butcher's shop and today it has become a chain of great restaurants. There are 8 of them overall, and two of them are in Lecce. First you choose the meat or sausages you want to grill, then you just sit down, have some wine and everything is brought to you in a moment. It's really great. Don't forget to have their baked potato! And beware – reservations are usually required!
Niky Malečková
17.07.2024
1507
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