Lecce

Situated on the picturesque lowlands of Apulia on the Italian heel, there’s no question that the gloriously adorned city of Lecce deserves its nickname as the ‘Florence of the South’. Granted it’s a little rougher around the edges than its renaissance compadres to the north, but that only adds to its charm. In truth, Lecce is a lively, lived-in southern city, one with age-stained Baroque grandeur, aromatic pizzerias and endless array of hidden piazzas.

Lecce’s history goes back millennia, which is why the central old town fuses an ancient Roman amphitheatre with Neapolitan palaces. It is here that travellers can view the exquisite façade of the Basialica de Santa Croce, and the Duomo di Lecce, all centred on the Piazza del Duomo and Piazza Sant'Oronzo. And while you’re getting lost amidst that labyrinthine web of roadways that forms the Centro Storico (because lost you certainly will get!), be sure to stop off at a wine bar or two to sample the flavoursome reds and whites of greater Apulia. For those looking to enjoy the town’s unique location on the edge of the Mediterranean, Lecce tour guides often recommend taking a trip to nearby Punta Prosciutto or the Grecian towns of the Salento peninsula, where beaches and seafood eateries cluster en masse.