Stroll around Lecce, the “Baroque Florence”, and discover the countless churches, palaces and monuments carved out of this soft and almost golden limestone that gives the city a glowing look, like the chubby cherubins that decorate its façades.  

A veritable open-air museum, Lecce is a microcosm of Baroque splendours. The cherubins, gargoyles, plant patterns, columns and capitals, each more extravagant than the last, are legion here - to the extent that the city lays claim to its own style, the “Barocco Leccese”. It has to be said that the sculptors and architects of the 16th and 17th centuries had a field day with the regional stone, a marvel of malleability and delicacy.

During a guided tour, discover its Roman heritage on the Piazza Sant’Oronzo, where the palazzos, church and Roman amphitheatre dating from the 2nd century try to outdo each other with their beauty. Then head off to explore the Centro Storico historic centre. Its cobbled streets and shady squares are teeming with incredible rococo treasures, including the Basilica of Santa Croce – with a constellation of sublime ornaments -that you will able to visit, and the Governor’s Palace whose façades you will admire.

A few metres away, the Piazza del Duomo, in spectacular golden monochrome, proudly displays a cathedral, its bell tower and the archbishop’s palace, making it one of Italy’s most beautiful squares. The exploration of the city centre ends with some free time to discover the city at your own pace, before getting back on the bus for Otranto.

·        This excursion involves a coach journey to Lecce as well as walking 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) on uneven surfaces, with some steps to negotiate. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Appropriate attire is required when visiting religious sites: knees and shoulders must be covered. On Sundays and religious public holidays and during religious celebrations, groups are not allowed to enter churches during service. The order of visits may change.