Artist’s shelter

Between Baroque cathedrals, farm estates, castles and towers overlooking an unspoiled 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, marked by slow rhythms and influenced by Magna Graecia and Byzantine rule, at 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 color of Lecce stone, whose malleability made it possible to write the history of the Baroque.

Here, where art is everywhere, among churches and aristocratic palaces that fascinate with their unexpected theatrical settings, where the stone’s golden hue soothes and leads along 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 was linked to the Norman dynasty; however, it was under Spanish rule that Lecce entered its period of greatest splendor. Immersed in lacework of pale stone, Baroque churches, portals and the ancient elegance of its palaces, here, where everything is harmonious, the Baroque reaches its apotheosis in the splendid Basilica of Santa Croce, which, together with the Celestine Convent, forms one of the region’s foremost architectural complexes.

A city that tells of history, culture and traditions rooted in ancient customs, as well as a simple, genuine cuisine featuring typical dishes that inspire love. Just 30 minutes from Brindisi Airport and a few kilometers south of the Itria Valley, Lecce lies almost halfway between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea, both reachable within minutes.