A Pit Stop in Lecce: the Florence of the South

Lecce isn’t the first city that comes to mind when thinking about Southern Italy. Hailed as the Florence of the south thanks to its rich Baroque history and architecture, it’s a welcome city stop when exploring the heel of the Italian peninsula. 

Lecce, Italy

Lecce, Italy

Surrounded by both the Adriatic and the Ionian sea, Lecce is nestled south of Bari in the Puglia region.

Lecce, Italy

Lecce, Italy

Once here, you’ll fall in love with its captivating centro storico (historic centre). Made up of a maze of small streets that are easy to get lost in, most lead to old churches or squares.

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Lecce, Italy

Lecce, Italy

The town is filled with gorgeous doors, facades, churches adorned with gargoyles, and a Roman amphitheatre. One characteristic that marks the old town is a type of yellow limestone – called Lecce stone – unique to the city.

Lecce, Italy

Lecce, Italy

Lecce also boasts a host of Puglian restaurants and hotspots, most with outdoor patios that overlook a piazza or one of Lecce’s charming streets. Here are my must-visits:

Lecce, Italy

When near the Italian coastline, choose seafood! With a slogan that reads “In Fish We Trust,” you know that Pescheria con Cottura is the real deal. Their ordering process works like this: Choose your fish or seafood from their fresh display, let them know how you would like it cooked (fried or grilled, for example), pay your meal at the cash, take a seat and wait for your name to be called, and voilà! I enjoyed mouth-watering grilled squid with a salad and a side of potatoes.

Lecce, Italy

For an upscale dining experience, opt for Volo. I began my meal with a regional bottle of red wine and a Burrata appetizer, a Puglian specialty. For my main, I ordered their shrimp risotto sprinkled with peppercorn (pictured below) – all of this was served on their beautiful outdoor terrace!

Lecce, Italy

A confirmed local favourite, Mamma Elvira became my go-to restaurant and wine bar during my stay. Located right near Santa Croce church, stop by for aperitivo hour and enjoy a glass of wine with a salumi & formaggi platter that comes with several types of cheeses, Italian cold cuts, honey, jam, and an olive spread (pictured below). Head back in the evening for their Eggplant Parmigiana, bombette (cheese stuffed pork poppers), or taieddha (a rice, potato, and seafood specialty from Salento).

Lecce, Italy

End your day at Quanto Basta – or QB as the locals call it, the hottest cocktail bar in town. Opened by bearded duo, Diego and Andrea, everything here is expertly crafted by mixologists. Both of the cocktails I sampled were a hit: the Birimbau, made with white rum, rum from Martinique, lime juice, orange juice, maracuja, honey mix, and angostura bitter & the Prato di Velluto, made with white rum, Doppio Carvi liquor, chamomile syrup, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and egg whites. If you prefer a simpler concoction, they also put lots of love into their mojitos.

Have you been to Lecce? What did you think! Let me know below.

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