Puglia, Italy
I love traveling in Italy. My dream is to visit each of the 20 regions, and most cities in Italy in my lifetime. Because I had never been to two of the southern regions of Italy–Puglia and Basilicata, I traveled there in 2017. I was so impressed and delighted by my recent travels there, I decided to share them as a new destination for one of my Italy Retreats for Women to live la dolce vita in September 2018 and post the 5 Must-See Places in Lecce, Puglia Italy.
I was impressed with Lecce, known as the ‘Florence of the South’, in the region of Puglia. Â Lecce has rich architectural monuments and is a bustling city with a long cultural affinity with ancient Greek culture.
Most mornings, I drank my morning cappuccino at Café Alvino, which overlooks the Roman Amphitheater in Piazza Sant’ Oronzo in the center of town. This impressive amphitheater was not discovered until 1901 and partially excavated in the 1930s. In the unique morning light of Lecce, it’s easy to soak in the wonder of this living monument, built in the 2nd Century AD, once capable of seating 25,000 people!
In September we will start our Italy Retreat adventure in the center of  Lecce at a lovely four-star hotel.  From here we can easily walk to explore the city which offers highly ornate, Baroque architecture similar to the extravagant style of the art and music that flourished in Europe in the 1600s and 1700s after the Renaissance Period. It is bustling with cafes and restaurants serving up tasty local cuisine of seafood, orrechiette (hand-made, ear-shaped pasta), vegetables, and chicory with chickpeas. Wash it all down with local wines, which includes refreshing rosé, and full bodied reds famously grown in the southern part  of Puglia known as the Salient area. The northern region of Puglia produces white wine.
For day trips, Lecce, is a short 30-60 minute drive to the many seaside towns on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas with pristine, clear blue water and some of Italy’s most beautiful beaches and seaside charm.
Duomo Cathedral, Cattedrale dell’Assunzione della Virgine, in Lecce
There are many historic cities and enchanting beaches to visit in Puglia, so this is a very short list of 5 Must-See Things to do while staying in Lecce.
1.) Duomo di Lecce, known as the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Virgin. Cattedrale dell’Assunzione della Virgine in Piazza Duomo.  The first church was built in 1114 but then fully embellished in Baroque style from 1659-70.
2.) Basilicata di Santa Croce is a 17th Century church with elaborate Baroque facade made of white sandstone. The top two-thirds of the church is decorated with human and animal figures, a full array of flowers, garlands and lots of grapes.
3.) The Roman Amphitheater in Piazza Sant’ Oronzo has only been 50 % excavated but it was capable of seating 25,000 people in its heyday. Built in 2nd Century AD it is now surrounded by buildings of Fascist architecture. It was discovered in 1901 deep under the city, and excavated in the 1930s.  This is right in the center of town and easily found if you follow the obelisk of Saint Oronzo rising high into the sky.
Amphitheater in Lecce, Puglia Italy
4.) Otranto is a short 30 minute drive from Lecce. Â This historic port town and walled city is known for its 10 kilometers of beaches and diving rocks, and its cathedral with its mosaic floor that dates back to the 12th century. Â There is a very peaceful feeling here.
5.) Alberobello: An hour from Lecce, Alberobella is both touristy and magical yet so worth the drive from Lecce.  The limestone conical shaped homes were built around the 14th Century with mystical and religious symbols on the rooftops.
Truly homes in Alberbello
In addition to visiting historical piazzas, beaches and towns, my Italy Retreat will include enjoying traditional delicious food.cooking classes, pizzica dancing in the streets, visits to Matera, Otranto, Castro, Lecce, and the eternal city of Rome.
Learn more about traveling to Italy on Lenora’s Italy Retreats For Women
Find out more about Lenora’s Sweet Life Workshops and Sweet Life Happiness Coaching.
You are welcome to reprint, copy, or distribute Lenora Boyle’s article, provided the above author credit is included.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â \argest square in Lecce.
4.) Otranto Mosaic cathedral. A beach, a mosaic floor, a walled city.
5.) Alberobello: Trulli homes an hour from Lecce. It is both touristy and magical yet so worth the drive from Lecce.
In addition to visiting historical piazzas and towns, we include cooking classes, pizzici dancing in the streets and imbibing slow food.
The Duomo (Cathedral) of Lecce, Italy
The Baroque city of Lecce is bustling with cafes and restaurants serving up local cuisine of seafood, orrechiette ear-shaped pasta, vegetables, and chicory and chickpeas. Wash it all down with local wines, which includes refreshing rosé, and full bodied reds in the southern part (Salento) of Puglia. The northern part of Puglia produces white wine,
Baroque architecture is a highly ornate and often extravagant style of architecture, art and music that flourished in Europe in the 1600s and 1700s after the Renaissance Period.
1.) Duomo di Lecce, known as the Cathedral in Piazza Duomo
Inside the Duomo Cathedral
2.) The Roman Amphitheater in Piazza Sant’ Oronzo.  They did not unearth all of it, partly buried capable of seating 25,000 people in its heyday. Built in 2nd Century AD surrounded by buildings of Fascist architecture. It was discovered in 1901 and excavated in the 1930s, however, it is only 50 % excavated.  I love having a cup of coffee at Cafe Alvino, looking out at this amphitheater. Largest square in Lecce.
Roman Amphitheater in Lecce, Puglia, Italy
3.) Basilicata di Santa Croce, Via Umberto, 1600s church with elaborate facade made of white sandstone that uplifts the spirit, and brings so much beauty.
4.) Otranto. A beach, a mosaic floor,, a walled city.
5.) Alberobello: Trulli homes an hour from Lecce. It is both touristy and magical yet so worth the drive from Lecce.
In addition to visiting historical piazzas and towns, we include cooking classes, pizzici dancing in the streets and imbibing slow food.