Discovering Lecce

A mesmerizing feast of baroque architecture, Lecce dazzles the eye with its resplendent historical center, which is lined with buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. You’ll find dozens of striking churches and palazzi, along with a Norman-style castle and a trove of excellent museums. Lecce has been inhabited for over 2000 years, and you can see ancient Roman ruins in a horseshoe-shaped amphitheatre that once held 15,000 spectators. 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Lecce:  the most beautiful city in Puglia, the Baroque masterpiece of southern Italy. Sometimes described as the 'Rome of the South', with a long history of rich architecture and art.

Alberobello: universally known as the capital of the ‘Trulli’, famous worldwide for its beauty and unique characteristics, and represent one of the most extraordinary examples of Italian folk architecture.

Day 1: ARRIVAL LECCE

Upon your arrival in Lecce reach the hotel on your own and check in (transfer available as an optional extra).  In the afternoon, enjoy a small group walking tour of the city (the tour starts at 15.00 hrs). In the evening, enjoy a private walking tour of the city. Discover the elegance and refinement of Lecce, a city that echoes history and art, on a 3-hour walking tour! Begin your walking experience in Piazza Sant'Oronzo and stroll through the historic center admiring Lecce's Baroque churches and monuments. During the tour, you will come across many artisan shops, that produce artefacts practicing the ancient art of papier-mâché. Your guide will tell you all you need to know about the importance of the city's Baroque art and the historical influences from the Roman era. Admire the Duomo, the Basilica of Santa Croce, the amphitheatre, and the Roman Theatre. Continue walking by the Castle of Charles V and have a look at its exterior as well as the facades of various ancient buildings.

Overnight in Lecce.

Day 2: LECCE

After breakfast you will enjoy a small group tour to discover the famous culinary culture in Apulia. Attend a private cooking class in the morning or in the afternoon, learn the secrets of the Lecce recipes and have fun by learning how to reproduce the Italian specialities at home. Connect with local people, meet the Cesarina at her home and learn all her secrets to prepare local specialties. Finally, taste the fruit of your labor and experience the authentic flavors of Lecce cuisine paired with a selection of local red and white wines, as the Cesarine offer only wines of the territory.

Le Cesarine is Italy’s first network of home cooks coordinated at a national level by a dedicated staff. The Cesarine are welcoming ambassadors of the Italian culinary heritage, animated by an authentic passion for traditional Italian cuisine. Every Cesarina has been carefully selected by experts to host gastronomic events in their own homes with local produce and refined menus, the result of authentic local recipes, handed down from generation to generation.

Overnight in Lecce.

Day 3: LECCE – POLIGNANO A MARE – ALBEROBELLO – LOCOROTONDO – OSTUNI – LECCE

After breakfast at the hotel enjoy a full day of a small group tour of Valle D’Itria. Depart from Lecce, the first stop is Polignano a Mare, the town of Puglia, which has a great charm for its uniqueness, with the cliffs that overlook the sea, the historic center that "tells" the civilizations that have inhabited these places and the food and wine of the area. The tour continues for Alberobello, one of the Italian sites included by UNESCO in the World Heritage List and the capital of the Trulli. The historical center is in fact made up entirely of these pyramid-shaped buildings that make it unique in the world. The next stop is Locorotondo, in the circuit of the most beautiful ancient villages of Italy, with its flowered balconies. Continue to Ostuni, also known as the White City, due to its quaint old town that was once entirely painted with white lime. The return to Lecce is scheduled in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Lecce.

Day 4: DEPARTURE LECCE

Enjoy your last breakfast in Lecce and if time permits take the last walk to say “arrivederci” to the city or do some shopping. Transfer to the airport or train station is available as an optional extra.

Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Italy. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts, or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat, and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.