Bird's eye view of Lecce

The panoramic point of Lecce is a great place to get an unprecedented, unique view of Lecce and the Salento from its tallest building, the bell tower of the Cathedral. Thanks to the elevator, visitors can go to the third level of the ancient tower, where four balconies offer a 360-degree view of the city and the Adriatic Sea up to the Albanian coast.

Discovering the Baroque with the ArtWork team

The Artwork team offers those unfamiliar with the beauties of Lecce the opportunity to discover them in an unprecedented way.

And, once again, guaranteeing the best use of the sites included in the circuit through a single ticket and with prolonged opening hours.

(artworkcultura.it/en/)

Palazzo Vernazza's phygital experience

Palazzo Vernazza, one of the oldest noble palaces in Lecce, which guards millenary ruins, has been hosting an unusual visit itinerary enriched by technologies. The project, called Visit Palazzo Vernazza from the 14th century to 4.0, was developed by the staff of the University of Salento, who did the excavation and the studies.

It takes the visitor along a physical and digital path. With a tablet in hand, you move between the different rooms of the building, accompanied by audiovisual narrations, 3D reconstructions and experiences in virtual and augmented reality (palazzovernazza.it/english/).

The new life of Palazzo Luce

Palazzo Luce, right next to the Roman amphitheatre in the centre of Lecce, is the aesthetic testament of collector Anna Maria Enselmi. The Palazzo dei Conti - which was the home of Maria D'Enghien, who became Queen of Naples after her second marriage - has now been turned into a museum and art gallery.

It houses many contemporary art and design pieces. The Palazzo's medieval origins make it stand out from the rest of the Baroque city--one more reason to visit Lecce outside the usual routes.

Paper mache from Lecce

Via Umberto I is one of the most romantic streets in Lecce. The Lecce paper-mache shops are located there, where master craftsmen work day and night assembling the paper-mache.

If you walk around the ancient artisan shops, you'll find hidden treasures, like the Bottega della Cartapesta in the heart of Lecce. There, you can watch Santino Merico create masterpieces like sacred statues, restorations, and other objects in his own laboratory. He's been doing this since 1982. Another big name in the city centre is Mario Di Donfrancesco, head of the La Bottega dell'Arte laboratory for restoring sacred statues and paper-mache. They're specialised in restoration.

After visiting the shops in the alleys, you can go to the Cartapesta Museum inside the Charles V Castle. It contains works from every era by hundreds of artists.

The real almond paste

The Monastery of San Giovanni Evangelista is a must-stop for foodies: for centuries, the nuns have been preparing exquisite almond paste sweets in the shape of fish and lamb, according to an ancient eighteenth-century recipe, filled with faldacchiera, a cream made from egg yolks and sugar cooked in a double boiler (info@benedettinelecce.it).

Shopping break?

Div.Ergo, a company that strives to help young people with disabilities enter the workforce, sells unique "souvenirs". Daf Design tells the story of Salento and the Mediterranean through colourful accessories. While F360's vintage research is not just about clothing--it becomes a lifestyle, always on the hunt for memorabilia from past decades

Lecce's Province

There are many easy day trips from Lecce that allow you to explore some of the Salento's most beautiful hamlets, such as Nardo', Specchia, Galatina, Gallipoli, and Otranto. These make for fantastic days out by the sea.