Do you want to know what there is to do in Lecce? We've got you covered with the best and most essential activities in this charming city. While you can visit the top sights on a day trip, Lecce’s delightful restaurants and welcoming atmosphere make it perfect for a stay of two to three days.

First thing to do is to buy a combi-ticket for the city's main attractions. It offers excellent value for money, and we highly recommend it. With the LeccEcclesiae ticket, you can visit the Cathedral, the Basilica of Santa Croce, the Church of Santa Chiara, and San Matteo, as well as the Ancient Seminary and Museum of Sacred Art (MuDAS), all for just 11 euros.

• For travel infos and a compact view of the Top10 Highlights go back to our Lecce-Guide.
• Do you want to go on a road trip in Apulia? Then check out our 1-week road trip.

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Top 3 Attractions

Marvel at one of the best baroque masterpieces in Southern Italy

The Basilica di Santa Croce in Lecce is a wonderful example of Baroque architecture and one of the finest in Southern Italy. It amazes visitors with its elaborate, incredible facade, which is adorned with intricate carvings, religious figures, and a stunning rose window, all crafted from local Leccese stone, which glows golden in the sunlight. Inside, the basilica continues to impress with its coffered ceiling and lavishly decorated chapels.

Explore the Cathedral from the Crypt up to the Campanile

The Duomo di Lecce is the most impressive Baroque masterpiece of architect Giuseppe Zimbalo. Reconstructed between 1659 and 1670, this cathedral also boasts a stunning façade. Highlights inside include the gilded wooden ceiling, the grand main altar made of marble and gold-plated bronze, and the intricate walnut choir stalls. Don't miss the 12th-century crypt, a remarkable underground space with Baroque chapels and 92 columns adorned with detailed capitals.

The cathedral’s towering bell tower, standing at 72 meters and completed in 1682, offers breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea and even the mountains of Albania on clear days. It's best to decide beforehand if you want to take the elevator, as buying the right combo ticket saves you 2 euros — enough to buy an espresso or gelato instead.

If you want to know more about the other attractions in the combi-ticket, just click on the names:

• Church Santa Chiara
• Church San Matteo
• Ancient Seminary & MuDAS

Take a step back to Roman Times

Centrally located in Piazza Sant'Oronzo, the Roman Amphitheater is free to view and gives you a glimpse into Roman times. Discovered in 1901, only a third of the original structure is visible today, with the rest buried under modern buildings. The amphitheater is also surrounded by charming bars and restaurants, in which you can enjoy a break.

Learn about the thrilling story of the Faggiano Museum

The private Faggiano-Museum is one of Lecce's most fascinating highlights. Its exciting story and the personal engagement of the Faggiano family make exploring the underground treasures a true pleasure. Discovered by chance during plumbing repairs in 2001, the museum reveals layers of historical artifacts spanning 2,000 years, from the Messapian and Roman periods to the Medieval and Renaissance eras. Managed by Luciano Faggiano and his three sons, who personally conducted the seven-year excavation, this unique museum features tombs, frescoes, underground escape ways, cisterns, hypogeums, and over 5,000 archaeological finds! Don’t miss the stunning view from the museum’s terrace.

Marvel at Lecce's Craftsmanship

Especially in the old town there are numerous artisans, from ceramic artists to blacksmiths. However, Lecce is most renowned for its papier-mâché art! This typically baroque art form is showcased throughout the city. You’ll find it adorning splendid shrines, impressive statues in churches, and even the ceiling of the Church of Santa Chiara. The artisans still work in their workshops today, creating magnificent holy statues.

As a tourist, you can easily take home smaller nativity scene figures as souvenirs.

Enjoy Apulia’s Wines

Many people don’t realize that Lecce and the Salento region are among the largest wine-producing areas in Italy. You can visit one of the many surrounding wineries or enjoy the wonderful regional wines in the bars of the city. The most popular grape varieties are "Negroamaro" and "Primitivo," but we particularly recommend the excellent rosé wines of the region. For more infos, check out Specialities in our Lecce-Guide.

Step through the gateway to the historic centre

Porta Napoli is a striking triumphal arch built in 1548 to honor Emperor Charles V, serving as a grand entrance to Lecce's enchanting historic center. We highly recommend to pass by when in town. Depending on the location of your accommodation this could be your first stop on your visit of the old town. As one of the three gates of Lecce, it marks the north-western city entrance. On the outer side is Lecce's new town and behind the gate lies a serene square with an obelisk and flowering trees.

Take a Siesta

After a delicious lunch, a traditional siesta is just what you need. The afternoon rest from 2 to 4 PM is deeply rooted in the daily life of Southern Italy and offers you the perfect opportunity to relax and recharge for the evening. Even if you choose not to nap, keep the Italians' siesta in mind when planning your day.