The Best of Lecce walking tour with Pasticciotto tasting
Did you know that Thomas Ashe named Lecce the “most beautiful city in Italy”? You have a chance to find out for yourself! The historical center and the monuments of Lecce are rich in unusual ornaments and colorful decorations. Would you like to find out what they characterize? Together with the professional local guide, you will walk through this wonderful city. It is a must for lovers of art and culture. Is Lecce on the heel of the boot? At the end of the tour, the guide will take you to the local bakery. You will try “Apasticciotto”- a famous traditional pastry.
You have to pay extra for the church entrance.
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1
Basilica di Santa Croce
The Basilica of Santa Croce is one of the most prominent churches in Lecce, as well as one of the most magnificent Lecce Baroque monuments. VI. Count Walter of Brienne founded it in the 14th century. Its construction began in 1549, utilizing the materials from the razed buildings of the city's Jews, who were banished in 1510. Because of the delay, the facade was finished in 1582, while the dome was finished in 1590. Francesco Antonio Zimbalo's designs for the entrances were finished in 1606. The church's principal feature is its ornately adorned exterior. Six carefully crafted columns support the crown cornice, which is embellished with sculptures of animals, grotesque characters, and plant themes. The massive rose window is the principal feature of the main facade. The church's interior is designed in the shape of a Latin cross. It used to have a main nave and four side naves. In the 18th century, the two side naves were turned into chapels. The church's ceiling is embellished with painted coffers by Gianserio Strafella, Oronzo Tiso, and Giovan Battista Lama.
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Centro Storico
Lecce is one of the most beautiful cities in Puglia and a must-see. Its allure stems from the richness of its art historical features and baroque architecture. Furthermore, the city is abundant with examples of Gothic, Renaissance, and Rococo architecture. The town also has an outstanding Roman amphitheater, attractive lanes, bustling squares, and a fantastic culinary scene, making it a must-see destination.
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Museo Faggiano
These excavations turned the home into a true archaeological site, which is now open to the public owing to the Cultural Association Idume, which was created by Luciano Faggiano, who is in charge of the museum's maintenance and management. From 1000 to 1200, this was a Templar residence, and subsequently, up to 1600, it was a Franciscan Nuns of Saint Clare's order Convent. The excavation effort revealed tombs, granaries, cisterns, hypogeums, wells, templar frescos, ossuary, subterranean escape paths, over 5000 archaeological items, and other amazing things.
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4
P.za del Duomo
Piazza Duomo is one of Lecce's principal squares. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (the Duomo), the Campanile, the Episcopio, and the Palazzo del Seminario are all located here. The iconic Piazza Duomo is dominated by Baroque architecture. This vast courtyard, which was subsequently remodeled, goes back to Bishop Gerolamo Guidano's reign. It is reached by the propylaea, which Emanuele Manieri erected at the end of the eighteenth century after demolishing the ancient entry walls. It is an unusual example of a closed plaza, with three sides entirely closed and just one entrance point where Via Giuseppe Libertini meets Via Vittorio Emanuele II.
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Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption and Saint Orontius
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption and Saint Orontius, often known as Lecce Cathedral, is a cathedral devoted to the Virgin Mary's Assumption. It is the official residence of the Archbishop of Lecce. The cathedral was erected in 1144, but it was repaired in 1230. By the command of bishop Luigi Pappacoda, whose bones are housed in the altar dedicated to Saint Orontius of Lecce, the city's patron saint, it was restored in 1659 by architect Giuseppe Zimbalo. The cathedral is located in the heart of Lecce, on the southeast corner of the Piazza del Duomo. It is accessible from the plaza by two entrances, one on the north and one on the west sides of the structure. The plaza is shared by the cathedral and many other structures, including the bell tower, the bishop's palace, and the seminary. Concerning the adjoining bell tower, it was built in 1661-1662 by Lecce architect Giuseppe Zimbalo at the behest of Bishop Luigi Pappacoda. It was constructed to replace the former Norman bell tower, which had been completed by Goffredo d'Altavilla and had collapsed at the beginning of the 17th century. It is square in design and appears to be composed of five tapering levels, the last of which is topped by an octagonal majolica dome containing an iron statue of Sant'Oronzo. The upper four levels feature a single window on each side and a railing that wraps entirely around their circumference. The bell tower, which stands 72 meters tall, provides views of the Adriatic Sea and, on clear days, the Albanian highlands. Because of a partially sunken base, it leans somewhat.