Hotels near Castello di Carlo V

The Castello di Carlo V is the largest castle in Puglia, a massive fortress rebuilt in the 1540s for the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to defend Lecce against Ottoman raids. Its trapezoidal plan wraps an older medieval tower inside thick angular bastions designed to withstand cannon fire.

Now restored, it hosts exhibitions and a small museum of papier-mache, the traditional Lecce craft of cartapesta once used to make religious figures. The vaulted halls and ramparts are worth exploring, and the castle marks the eastern edge of the historic centre.

Pro Tip: Entry is around 5 EUR and often includes temporary exhibitions. Check whether the papier-mache museum is open, as the cartapesta tradition is a distinctive part of Lecce's heritage.