Best Things to Do in Lecce Italy : The Main City of Puglia

Lecce, the “Florence of the South,” shines in the heart of Salento with golden baroque façades, lively piazzas, and a warm Mediterranean soul. The city’s ornate beauty, from the Basilica di Santa Croce to the Roman Amphitheater, makes every stroll feel cinematic. Around its sunlit streets, Puglia wineries open their doors for unforgettable tastings of Primitivo and Negroamaro, wines that perfectly match the city’s elegance and flavor. Lecce is a full-sensory experience where history, architecture, and local wine blend into pure southern bliss.

What are the best things to do in Lecce?

Stroll through Lecce’s historic center

The historic center of Lecce is a maze of narrow streets and alleys lined with stunning stone buildings that tell the city’s story. As you walk, take in the intricate carvings on the facades of churches and palaces, true masterpieces of Lecce’s baroque style. Don’t miss the vibrant squares like Piazza Sant’Oronzo, where you can relax with an outdoor coffee and absorb the local ambiance. Lecce’s old town is perfect for a leisurely walk, offering a mix of art, history, and daily life that promises unforgettable moments.

Visit the Basilica di Santa Croce

The Basilica di Santa Croce, Lecce’s baroque icon, captivates with its richly detailed facade adorned with mythological figures, angels, and fantastical creatures. Inside, the expansive nave is bathed in natural light, highlighting side altars and delicate decorations. This basilica is not only a place of worship but also a journey through time, offering a glimpse into Lecce’s artistic heritage.

Explore the Roman Amphitheater

Right in the heart of Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the Roman Amphitheater stands as one of the most captivating things to do in Lecce Italy. Unearthed only in the 20th century, this grand arena once welcomed crowds of cheering Romans for gladiator battles and public shows. Today, wandering its ancient stone tiers feels like stepping into a living history book, the energy, the drama, the echoes of applause still linger in the air. By night, it transforms again, hosting open-air performances that bridge Lecce’s ancient past with its vibrant present.

Discover the Church of Saints Niccolò and Cataldo

Just outside Lecce’s historic center, the Church of Saints Niccolò and Cataldo blends Romanesque and Gothic styles. Founded in the 12th century by the Normans, this church is known for its ornate facade and fascinating interior adorned with frescoes and mosaics. Surrounded by an ancient cemetery, it exudes a peaceful atmosphere, ideal for reflection and a unique glimpse into Lecce’s spiritual past.

Admire the Teatro Paisiello

Teatro Paisiello is one of Lecce’s hidden treasures. Named after the famous composer Giovanni Paisiello, this 18th-century theater combines neoclassical architecture with an intimate ambiance and excellent acoustics. If you get the chance, attend a performance here, or simply visit to appreciate the historical decor and charming atmosphere.

Marvel at Porta Napoli

Porta Napoli, built in 1548 in honor of Charles V, is one of Lecce’s grand historic entrances. Once the main gateway to the city, it now welcomes visitors to explore Lecce’s baroque architecture and history. Starting your city tour from here, you’ll pass iconic churches, historic squares, and timeless beauty that make Lecce unforgettable.

Explore Carlo V Castle

The Carlo V Castle isn’t just a fortress, it’s Lecce’s ultimate time machine with serious main-character energy. Built in the 16th century to fend off invaders, its thick stone walls now guard something far more fun: art exhibitions, concerts, and the occasional dramatic photo op. Step inside to wander through frescoed halls, peek into ancient chambers, and climb up for sweeping views of the city. If you’re hunting for the most cinematic things to do in Lecce Italy, this castle is your starring moment, moat included.

Savor a Pasticciotto Leccese

No visit to Lecce is complete without tasting the pasticciotto leccese, a traditional pastry filled with creamy custard. Fresh from the oven, this treat embodies the essence of Lecce’s culinary heritage. Try it in a historic café for the authentic experience, perhaps with a cappuccino.

Walk to Piazza Duomo

Piazza Duomo, one of Lecce’s most charming squares, is an architectural marvel. Stroll through cobblestone streets to reach this serene space, where you’ll find Lecce Cathedral, the Campanile, and the Bishop’s Palace. Each building showcases Lecce’s unique baroque style, offering an atmosphere perfect for reflection and photographs.

What are the best things to do around Lecce?

Discover a historic Salento winery

About 6 miles from Lecce, about a 15-minute drive, you’ll find Apollonio 1870, one of Salento’s standout wine estates. Nestled in Monteroni di Lecce, this winery blends tradition with passion. Tours take you through its ancient cellars, vineyards kissed by the southern sun, and a tasting of signature wines like their Negroamaro, crafted through generations of expertise. It’s the kind of stop that turns a simple day trip into a deeper dive into Puglia’s wine story.

Experience a legacy

12 miles from Lecce, in the town of Leverano, Conti Zecca is a storied Salento winery that blends tradition and innovation in every bottle. Established in the 1930s, this family-run estate produces wines entirely from its own vineyards, no outsourcing, no shortcuts. Your visit will take you through the fragrant grapevines, the dim and cool cellars, and into the tasting room where signature labels like Negroamaro and crisp local whites come alive. For a deeper exploration, book the Classic Wine Tour & Tasting that guides you through production and ends in a curated tasting of three wines.

Savor Southern elegance

Around 20 minutes from Lecce, Torleanzi in San Pietro Vernotico offers the vineyard escape that feels both luxurious and deeply local. Set among ancient olive trees and golden fields, this wine relais invites you to slow down with a glass of their full-bodied Negroamaro or crisp white under the warm Salento sun. Between the estate’s refined tasting rooms and tranquil countryside views, it’s easy to see why Torleanzi has become one of the most unforgettable stops for travelers exploring Puglia’s wine soul.

Day trip to Gallipoli

30 minutes from Lecce, Gallipoli brings the perfect mix of history and holiday vibes. Its old town sits on a tiny island, connected to the mainland by a centuries-old bridge, where narrow streets wind between whitewashed buildings and sea views pop up at every turn. Spend the day exploring the Angioino Castle, grabbing an aperitivo by the harbor, or lounging on golden beaches like Baia Verde and Punta della Suina. As the sun sets, the energy shifts, bars spill into the streets, music drifts through the alleys, and the town comes alive.

Sun, sea, and southern charm, it’s all part of the unforgettable things to do in Gallipoli Italy!

Discover Ostuni

Nicknamed the “White City,” Ostuni gleams under the southern sun with its maze of whitewashed houses cascading toward the Adriatic. Lose yourself in its winding alleys that suddenly open onto panoramic terraces, where sea and sky melt into one. Step inside the Gothic-Romanesque cathedral, peek into tiny artisan boutiques, and grab a seat at a lively piazza café for a spritz and some people-watching.

Just beyond the city walls, golden beaches promise a salty escape, all part of the magic that makes exploring the things to do in Ostuni a total experience.

Explore Alberobello

About an hour from Lecce, Alberobello is pure storybook Italy, a village made of whitewashed, cone-roofed houses called trulli that look like something out of a dream. Wander through Rione Monti, where the cobbled streets twist past charming shops and wine bars tucked inside these iconic homes. Pop into the Trullo Sovrano, the town’s largest, to see what life looked like centuries ago, then sip a crisp local Fiano or Verdeca at sunset.

Few places capture Puglia’s magic quite like this, and exploring its labyrinth of lanes is easily one of the most unforgettable things to do in Alberobello.

Admire the cliffs of Polignano a Mare

About 73 miles from Lecce, Polignano a Mare is where cliffs plunge into crystal-clear water and every viewpoint feels cinematic. Start at Lama Monachile, a pocket of turquoise tucked between limestone walls, then wander whitewashed lanes that open onto sea terraces. Grab a cliffside lunch (think ultra-fresh Adriatic seafood and a chilled local white), and linger for golden-hour views. From bold cliff jumps to sunset strolls, exploring the things to do in Polignano a Mare is pure coastal bliss.

Good to know before visiting Lecce