Lecce in a Day: What to See in Italy's Baroque Capital

They call it the "Florence of the South", and it's a nickname well earned. Lecce is an entire city carved out of stone: churches, palaces and balconies worked like lace, in a baroque style so rich and so distinctive that it has a name all of its own, the Lecce baroque. It's about half an hour from the masseria, and it makes for the classic day trip that stays with you.

The secret is in the stone

Everything in Lecce begins with Lecce stone: a soft, golden limestone, easy to carve, that the local stonemasons turned into masterpieces. It's this softness that explains the incredible wealth of detail on the façades. As you wander through the old town, always look up: every doorway has a story to tell.

Basilica di Santa Croce

This is the absolute masterpiece of the Lecce baroque. The façade of the Basilica di Santa Croce is a triumph of figures, animals, flowers and columns: an embroidery in stone built over the course of more than a century. It alone is worth the journey.

Piazza del Duomo

A short walk away opens one of the most striking squares in Italy: Piazza del Duomo, a monumental courtyard closed in on itself, with the Cathedral, the bell tower and the Palazzo del Seminario. In the evening, lit up, it is quite simply magical.

Piazza Sant'Oronzo and the Roman amphitheatre

The modern heart of the city is Piazza Sant'Oronzo, where history piles up layer upon layer: at its centre the column of the patron saint, and beside it the remains of the Roman amphitheatre, a reminder that Lecce, long before the baroque, was already an ancient city.

Among alleys, workshops and pasticciotti

Beyond its monuments, Lecce is best experienced in its alleys: the papier-mâché workshops (a traditional craft of the city), the hidden courtyards, the cafés. And of course the pasticciotto, the sweet symbol of Salento, perfect for a little pause.

How to get there from the masseria

From Carpignano Salentino, Lecce is reached in around twenty-five to thirty minutes by car. Our advice is to give it a whole day, perhaps rounding things off with dinner in the historic centre: in the evening, when the golden stone catches fire under the lights, Lecce shows you its most beautiful face. Having a peaceful base just a stone's throw away lets you enjoy it at your own pace, without the worry of the drive back.