Lecce is the provincial capital of Salento in the south of Puglia. It is known as the "Florence of the South" with its fine historical pedigree and culture dating back to the Roman times and is one of the reasons why it is popular for a city break.

The "centro storico" or old town, which is accessed through 3 gates - Porta Rudiae, Porta San Biagio and Porta Napoli, is a master piece of Baroque architecture which can be seen pn the facades of the many palaces and churches. One of the main square, Piazza Sant'Oronzo, was partially built on top of a Roman amphitheatre with half of the ruins still visible.

Nightlife

For dinner, there are many restaurants offering alfresco dining along Corso Vittorio Emanuele and down Via Palmieri and for late evening entertainment, Lecce boasts a wide selection of classy cocktail bars and nightclubs.

The Gelateria Pasticceria Natale is known as Lecce's best ice cream and cake shop and no visit to Lecce is complete without at least one visit!

Outside of the city, Otranto and Gallipoli are the hotspots where the beach bars are transformed in to open air discos and throughout the summer, the parties go right the way through the night until sunrise! The Bahia club in Otranto is very popular at the weekends.

Torre dell'Orso

A 30 minute drive heading towards Otranto takes you to the golden sands of Torre dell'Orso. A stunning beach flanked by pine forests and chalky white cliffs. It comes with full facilities including beach bars and restaurants. Tourists from across Puglia come in their droves attracted by the gentle waters, amazing seafood restaurants and watersports.

Porto Cesareo

Around a 40 minute drive from the city on the Ionian side of Puglia is the pretty coastal town of Porto Cesareo. Blessed with some of the best beaches in Salento, Poerto Cesareo is not to be missed.