Hotels in Lecce

Lecce is the elegant capital of Italy's Salento peninsula, the heel of the country's boot in the region of Puglia. Nicknamed the "Florence of the South," it's celebrated for its extravagant Baroque architecture, carved from soft local limestone that glows honey-gold in the sun and lends the whole centre a warm, theatrical unity.

The compact historic core centres on the Piazza del Duomo and the ornate Basilica di Santa Croce, with a Roman amphitheatre in the main square and artisan workshops tucked along the lanes. Lecce also makes an ideal base for the Salento coast, where both the Adriatic and Ionian seas, sandy beaches, and towns like Otranto and Gallipoli are a short drive away.

Lecce is walkable, affordable, and less crowded than Italy's northern art cities. Summers are hot and lively, while spring and autumn offer warm days ideal for pairing Baroque sightseeing with the region's food and wine.