Lecce Holidays

The ‘Florence of the South’ is one of Puglia’s undeniable gems, offering more than 2,000 years of history and an array of architectural delights. Lecce gained its name under Roman rule and has occupied the same setting ever since, resulting in an outstanding mix of ancient sights throughout the city. Today, this energetic university town is an impressive blend of culture and commerce, with upmarket shopping right alongside baroque monuments. Right at the heart of Lecce is the centro storico, which features an enormous Roman amphitheatre, a towering cathedral and an angular fortress. The true star of the show, though, is the Church of Santa Croce, which is perhaps even more elaborately designed than its namesake in Florence. What makes this district even more impressive is the sheer number of creamy stone buildings – all built using the town’s very own Lecce stone.

If you prefer to spend time shopping, you can find artisan craft shops brushing shoulders with modern clothing outlets and designer jewellers. On the dining front, there are hundreds of restaurants and bars, with many serving authentic fare inspired by the surrounding landscape. You'll also find independent cookery schools and cosmopolitan cocktail bars, which lend the city a refreshingly modern streak in the face of its revered ancient history.

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Your plans, our expertise

Start planning your Citalia holiday by getting in touch with one of our Personal Travel Planners.

Lines open: Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:30 (Wednesdays from 9:30), Bank Holidays 10:00 to 16:00.

Request Your Quote

Call us on 01293 765055

Handpicked Hotels in Lecce

Discover the real Lecce while staying in one of our carefully selected hotels

Lecce, Puglia

Risorgimento Resort

Perfectly situated in the heart of lecce
An elegant hotel with tastefully decorated accommodation and contemporary design
Rooftop terrace with views over the city’s rooftops

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Things to do in Lecce

Things to doAdmire the ArchitectureLargely built from a gold-coloured stone that was mined from the very ground the city stands upon, Lecce is one of Puglia's stars, and one of Italy’s historic wonders.Find out more about the Architecture in Lecce

Things to doDiscover the trulli in AlberobelloAlberobello, or ‘Trulli Town’ as it’s sometimes called, is one of Puglia’s must-visit towns. It’s home to neighbourhoods of trulli, traditional stone dwellings with whitewashed walls and cone-shaped roofs.Find out more about trulli Alberobello

Things to doGrottos of CastellanaThe natural wonders of Puglia’s caves grace the entrance to the Itria Valley and have been attracting tourists ever since they first opened. Find out more about Grottos of Castellana

Things to doTasting the cuisine of SalentoThis part of Italy is home to so many delicious morsels, it’s hard to pick out the best. For a quick savoury snack on the go, grab a rustico, crisp puff pastry discs encasing a mouthwatering filling of béchamel, melted mozzarella and tangy tomato.Find out more about Tasting the cuisine of Salento

Things to doVisit OstuniOstuni is one of Italy’s most impressive hilltop towns, cascading down the hillside in a whitewashed jumble that has earned it the title of Puglia’s ‘White City’.Find out more about Ostuni

Flight Information

Flights to Puglia arrive into Bari (BRI) from London Gatwick and London Stansted or Brindisi (BDS) from London Gatwick and Manchester (indirect) and take approximately 3 hours. Please call our Italy Experts in order to book flights to Brindisi.

Visa Information

At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

Whilst tipping isn’t embedded into Italian culture it is always appreciated as an acknowledgement of good service. Nowadays people generally round up a bill in a bar or cafe and leave 5-10% extra on a restaurant bill. Taxi bills are usually also rounded up.

On guided tours/excursions, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide.

On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide at the end of the tour.

Introduction to languages

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.