We always recommend an incredible stay in one of our vacation rentals in Florence to take in the immense cultural wealth of the city but if you’re after that kind of cultural background as well as the sizzling summers and stunning coastline offered to those who book a holiday rental in Salento then just plan a visit to Lecce. The so-called Florence of the South – a nickname that stuck after the Irish bishop George Berkeley came through Apulia in the 18th century and was struck by the splendour of the city – Lecce is a hub of incredible beauty that is full of things to see and do and is basically one giant, outdoor museum.
But why exactly has Lecce been labelled the Florence of the South?
Architectural Gems
Like Florence, Lecce boasts gorgeous historic streets in its centre that are lined with a vast number of remarkable, significant, and highly influential historic buildings. From churches to palaces to public buildings, most of which are carved out in the beautiful and gleaming white Lucchese stone, these astounding architectural gems wow visitors and transform the city streets into a magical outdoor museum. While particularly a hub of sumptuous Baroque buildings like the city’s grand cathedral (among many other examples), Lecce also boasts a Roman amphitheatre, the Italo-Norman Chiesa dei Santi Niccolò e Cataldo, medieval towers, the striking contemporary church of Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista, and many other fascinating buildings from different periods and in different styles.
As you pay visits to specific buildings or merely wander around the city in wonder while on vacation in Salento, be sure to look up and pay attention as the master masons and craftspeople of the city have left a heritage of impossibly detailed and lovely sculptural figures, decorative elements, and details. The façade of the Basilica di Santa Croce, in particular, with its rich ornamentation featuring sculpted animals, grotesque figures, vegetables, and more is a truly unmissable example.
Lecchese Stone
In fact, that very stone, a limestone from quarries around the city, made the city a spiritual hub of the Baroque akin to the Renaissance in Florence. While the movement was born in Rome, where the wealthy Church built massive and opulent buildings to honour God and leave their own legacies, in Lecce, it became a thing of finer beauty. In Lecce, it is all about the rich detail of the Baroque and this is allowed by the soft limestone from which things were built in this part of the world. This material was far more malleable and it was easier to carve designs with immense intricacy. So, once you have admired the elegant and striking Baroque buildings of Lecce from afar, get closer, peer up, take your time, and really admire this beyond remarkable craftsmanship.
Actual Museums
Of course, while we can say that Lecce, at large, is like a giant museum, the city also boasts some equally fascinating museums including multiple archaeological museums, a Jewish museum, history museums, a contemporary art museum, and more. So, while it may not have world-famous examples like those on offer in Florence, it does have an interesting selection of museums that will help you to deepen your understanding and experience of the history and culture of Lecce.
An Enduring Artistic Legacy
As with Florence, the inspiring setting of the city itself has ensured a continued legacy of wonderful local artists and artisans. Those who book a villa in Apulia and who come to Lecce can stock up on gorgeous local ceramics, have sculptures made of that lovely Lecchese stone shipped on home ahead of them, and dip into the rich tradition of papier-mâché works that was once limited to sacred objects for churches and homes and now encompasses everything from nativity scenes to dolls to interior decorations to design objects. Bring a little of this great city’s beauty home with you and see artisans in Lecce who are still at work in studios and workshops around the city today.
So, if you have a craving for a cultural gem of a destination but you want to experience the sun and fun and the stunning coastline of Apulia then get browsing our vacation rentals in Salento and spend a day or two heading in to Lecce to get a taste of the Florence of the South and all that it has to offer. With so much to see and do and beautiful surroundings as well as a generally relaxed atmosphere, it is already a perfect holiday destination for any traveller but culture vultures, in particular, will find it infinitely appealing. Plus, the city is still less familiar a destination than many others around Italy so, not only will you get the jump on your peers but you’ll also find a place that is less touristy than some other parts of the country.
