Lecce

Architecture

Your tour begins from Sant'Oronzo square, where you will find a Roman Amphitheater which was first discovered at the beginning of the 20th Century. The itinerary goes on to the historic center, which is rich with churches and old buildings decorated by Baroque Art. During the tour, it will be possible to look at papier-machè artisans at work. This kind of art belongs to Lecce from the 17th Century, when it was conceived to decorate churches, back when the paper was the only material available. It continues to adorn the houses and the churches of this magical city thanks to old masters and young people.

The tour starts with a visit to the majestic Santa Croce Church, the jewel in the crown of Lecce’s Baroque architecture. From here, explore the nearby Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the former market square where you can find the Old Town Hall, the Roman Column, and the remains of a huge Roman amphitheater. Continue the tour with a walk through the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which boasts a stunning Baroque palazzi and the recently restored Sant’Irene Church. Arrive at the breathtaking Piazza Duomo next, one of the most critically praised buildings in Italy. See the Archbishop’s Residence, the Seminary, the Bell Tower, and the cathedral. Finally, visit the underground Jewish Museum and discover the town’s fascinating Jewish history.

Day 1, Bari Street Food Tour After arriving independently to Bari, meet with your guide at 6 PM at the Swabian Castle for a walking street food tour. Visit Orecchiette Street where typical pasta is made by the local ladies, the Cathedral of San Sabino, and the imposing Basilica of San Nicola. Throughout the tour, taste the famous sgagliozze, tasty pieces of fried polenta, and focaccia. At the end of the day, check-in at the Palace Hotel or similar. Enjoy a free evening to explore at your own leisure.  Day 2: Castel del Monte to Trani Your second day will begin as you meet your driver and guide before departing for Castel del Monte to one of the most mysterious and fascinating castles in Southern Italy. After some free time, check-in at the Palazzo Paciotti (or similar). Get ready to discover Trani, which is known as the "Slow City" and the "Pearl of the Adriatic Sea". Enjoy a free evening to explore at your own leisure. Day 3: Matera, Alberobello After Breakfast, check-out before meeting with your driver and guide at 9 AM and departing for Matera, which is a UNESCO site and considered one of the most suggestive places in southern Italy. You will have free time for lunch, after which you will depart for Alberobello check-in at the Trulli Holiday Resort or similar. Enjoy a guided tour at 6 PM then enjoy a free evening to explore at your own leisure.  Day 4: Ostuni Lecce After breakfast, meet the driver to transfer to Ostuni, which is also called the "White City”. Explore with a local guide this place where it's possible to enjoy the amazing expanse of olive trees surrounded by the deep-blue sea. Transfer to Lecce and check-in to a 4-star hotel. Lecce walking tour with a licensed tour guide at 6 PM. Enjoy a free evening to explore at your own leisure. Day 5: Lecce Following breakfast at your hotel, check-out marking the end of your tour.

The discovery of Lecce starts from the beginning, pre-Roman and Roman, to the great period of the Baroque. Take a walk to the historic center that will take you to discover the wonders of Lecce, one of the most beautiful cities of southern Italy. The route starts from Porta Napoli to Piazza Duomo, Cathedral, Bell Tower, and Bishop's Seminar, the baroque heart of Lecce. Continue walking to the Church of St. Irene, Piazza Sant'Oronzo, where you can see the ruins of the Roman amphitheater, the church of San Marco and the Sedile. Walking through the streets of the old town, you will visit the Church of Santa Chiara and Roman Theatre, other important particulars of the story of Lecce. During the tour, you will taste a typical pasticciotto, a cake made with pastry and cream. The tour ends at the Basilica of Santa Croce, a jewel of Lecce Baroque and Celestine Convent.

The pick-up will take place at 8:30 am at your chosen location in Lecce. The first stop is Castro, with its mild atmosphere, generous nature, enchanting sea and beautiful scenery, it is one of the most beautiful ports of Salento. Castro is characterized by the particular salting buildings and pedestrian streets where you can admire the beautiful view of the bay and the Adriatic Sea up to Santa Maria di Leuca. Of particular interest is the Aragonese Castle of the XVI century and the Byzantine Church of the tenth century. Near Castro, Zinzulusa Cave is also fascinating. It is one of Salento's most impressive karstic phenomena, so a boat tour in the cave is suggested and a jump into the crystal clear waters for a swim if the weather permits. Driving along a coastal road through the town of Santa Cesarea Terme and Porto Badisco, you will admire an unique landscape while your chauffeur brings you to Otranto for lunch. Lying deep in Italy’s stiletto, Otranto is a mix of history, architecture, views, seafront restaurants and white sandy beaches makes it one of Puglia's most interesting, charming and picturesque towns. The imposing castle, thick perimeter walls and robust towers (built after the town was liberated from the Turks in the late 15th century) dominate much of the town, giving way to a small port, a series of seafront promenades with excellent fish restaurants and the town's own beautiful white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. The delightful Romanesque cathedral, dating back to 1088 and boasting extensive 12th century floor mosaics, is another highlight that should not be missed. After this amazing day, your chaffeur will bring you back to the point of departure.  Note: A tour guide is not included, a suggestion may be to bring a guidebook. Remember to check on the website the opening times of the location you want to visit and the price of the entrance tickets. Entrance fees are not included.

Embark on an exciting private tour through the city of Lecce, famous for its Baroque art and culinary specialties. Meet your local tour guide in the main square and start off by discovering the ruins of an ancient Roman theater right in the middle of the city. Then, stroll through the historic city center, taking in its refined and elegant atmosphere. Admire the local architecture, a unique style called barocco lecesse. This refers to the local stone carvings that decorate the façades of private buildings, churches, and balconies, as opposed to traditional Italian gold motifs. Throughout your walk, stop for tastings of local culinary specialties: rustico leccese (savory stuffed pastry), puccia (stuffed flatbread), pasticciotto (custard-filled puff pastry), and leccese coffee.

The day begins with pick up from the meeting point in central Lecce. Once in Gallipoli, the tour begins at the famous Greek fountain, one of the oldest in Italy and built in the 3rd Century A.C. Walk through the historic center and marvel at the 16th Century defensive walls, baroque churches, and characteristic alleys.  Once the 2-hour walking tour has finished, return transport to Lecce is provided.

The pick-up will take place at 8:30 am at your requested location in Lecce. The first hot spot of your chaffeur driven tour will be Alberobello, which is famous for its unique buildings called trulli (trullo in singular). A typical trullo has a cylindrical base with a conical limestone-tiled roof. Though built without cement, their thick white-painted stone walls ensured coolness in the summer and warmth in the winter. The roof was often painted with an evil eye, a cross, or an astronomical symbol and topped by an ornamental flourish. The walls are traditionally painted white and the interior of a trulli is mainly made from wood. Owing to the concentration of houses, trulli have few openings outside their doorway and a small aperture provided in the roof cone for ventilation. As a result, it can be quite dark inside. The Trulli of Alberobello, thanks to their unique characteristics and historical significance, constitute one of Puglia’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is certainly worth a visit, so you can’t miss this magical place. To refresh yourselves from the walk, the chaffeur will make a stop for lunch at the "Zio Peppe” farm in Martina Franca. Next, your chauffeur will bring you to Ostuni. First founded by an indigenous tribe some 600 years before Christ, Ostuni’s long and varied history saw it pass from the Romans to the Ostrogoths, from the Lombards to the Saracens, from the Byzantines to the Normans, from the Hohenstaufen to the Angevins and from the Aragonese to the Bourbons. The most distinguishing characteristic of Ostuni, and the reason for it's called “La Città Bianca” (the white city), is its uniformly white buildings. You should visit the "Old Town”, built on top of a hill and still fortified by the ancient walls. On top of the hill, in a quiet, little square you can visit the Cathedral, built in the fifteenth century in "humble stone.” The building with its flamboyant Gothic style was built in 1400 and boasts a magnificent rose window - among the largest in the world. As the last stop, pop round to the local museum. There you can admire precious flint tools, pottery objects, metal objects, casts of burials, and the reconstruction of the Santa Maria d' Agnano Cave where the Prof. Coppola, unearthed the burial of a pregnant Paleolithic age approximately 20 years called “la donna di Ostuni” in 199, unique relic of this kind. At 5pm your chaffeur will take you back to your requested location. Note Tour guide is not included and it is suggested to have a guidebook. Remember to check on the website the opening times of the location you want to visit and the price of entrance ticket. Entrance fees are not included.