Lecce

Lecce has a historic center of the highest level, where to stay enchanted by the visual effect of "Pietra Leccese", a golden stone used for the construction of the old inhabited center. The Church of Santa Croce is considered one of the most important baroque representations in the city. It is located in Piazza Sant'Oronzo, dominated by the famous obelisk dedicated to the Holy Father, the patron saint of the city. Inside the square, between 1904 and 1938, a Roman amphitheater dating from the 2nd century AD was found. Another testimony to Roman civilization is the Roman Theater, also of the second century, which remains part of the stage, the orchestra and the foundation of the scene. Near the square is also the Villa Comunale with its lovely gardens. The heart of religious life in Lecce is located in Piazza Duomo, in the center of the city. The cathedral was originally built in 1144, but in 1230 and in the years 1659-1670 renovation works were carried out that modified the original project. The duomo has two entrances, the main one on the left and the other looking at the entrance of the square. The main façade is very sober and refined in spite of the secondary entrance which is one of the masterpieces of the Lecce baroque with the statue of Sant'Oronzo that rises high and in the middle between the two statues of San Giusto and San Fortunato. For Eastern culture fans we recommend visiting the Chinese Missionary Museum and Natural History, a collection of ivory, bronze and furniture from the East. Also worth visiting is the Provincial Museum "Sigismondo Castromediano", where there is a collection of archaeological finds covering a vast historical period, from the Bronze Age to the Roman Empire. Close to the city center is the Castle of Charles V, wanted by the emperor as a fortress, but later a theater was used as a hall.