A nomadic artist's home

Among Baroque cathedrals, farm estates, castles and towers overlooking unspoilt sea, Puglia is an ancient land, shaped by centuries of history and art that have left unmistakable traces. Here lies Lecce, in the deepest, most rural South, defined by a slow pace of life and influenced by Magna Graecia and Byzantine rule, in the heart of Salento, rich in enchanting villages and breathtaking landscapes. Lecce, the “Queen of Baroque,” is a captivating city, one of the most enchanting in southern Italy. Strolling through Lecce’s narrow streets, everything is enveloped in dazzling light, thanks to the endless blue sky and the golden colour of Lecce stone, whose malleability made it possible to write the history of Baroque architecture.

Here, where art is everywhere, among churches and aristocratic palaces that fascinate with their unexpected settings, where the stone’s golden hue brings serenity and leads to almost meditative paths, no one can leave Lecce without admiring Piazza Duomo at night. It simply must be done. You will understand why.

Founded by the Messapians and known as Lupiae in Roman times, the city’s destiny in the Middle Ages became linked to the Norman dynasty. Yet it was under Spanish rule that Lecce ushered in its period of greatest splendour. Immersed in lacework of pale stone, Baroque churches, portals and the ancient elegance of its palaces, in a place where everything is harmonious, Baroque reaches its apotheosis in the magnificent Basilica of Santa Croce, which, together with the Celestine Convent, forms one of the region’s major architectural complexes.

A city that recounts history, culture and traditions rooted in ancient customs, as well as a simple, authentic cuisine featuring irresistible local dishes. Just 30 minutes from Brindisi Airport and a few kilometres south of the Itria Valley, Lecce lies almost halfway between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea, both reachable within minutes.