Lecce Italy: the Florence of the South, and a day there on our New Year week

Lecce, in Puglia in southern Italy, is the capital of Salento and well worth a visit: an old centre of 17th-century Baroque churches, palaces and piazzas in a pale, honey-coloured local stone, with a Roman amphitheatre in its main square. Spice Escapes takes a small hosted group of people travelling on their own to spend a day there on New Year in Puglia with WingsItaly, when the city is dressed for Christmas.

Below: the nickname, six sights in walking order, what to eat, winter weather, and our day there.

The Florence of the South: Roman remains and a Baroque of its own

Italia.it, Italy's official tourism site, puts the nickname down to two things: the remains of Roman rule, and a 17th-century Baroque so exuberant that it has its own name, Lecce Baroque.

With Salento threatened by Turkish and Saracen raids, Charles V gave Lecce a new city wall and a castle, and his reign began the era that made it one of the most important Baroque cities.

The stone is what you notice first, a colour italia.it calls blonde. See the cathedral square at sunset, then again after dark, when it is lit.

What to see in Lecce, from Porta Rudiae to the castle

Italia.it's two-day walk gives a good running order, and its advice is to take the city at a slow pace.

• Porta Rudiae, the oldest city gate, with busts of Lecce's founders on its columns and a statue of Sant'Oronzo, the patron saint, on top.
• Piazza del Duomo, a few minutes' walk inside, where the cathedral has a bell tower and two facades, one plain and one richly decorated.
• The Basilica di Santa Croce, the city's first Baroque building, with a large carved rose window and 16 altars. In the 19th century some locals thought it overly ornate, even grotesque.
• The Roman theatre, hidden among the buildings near the main squares, where you can sit on its steps.
• Piazza Sant'Oronzo, the main square, with the Roman amphitheatre and the saint's 29-metre column.
• The Castle of Charles V, from the 16th century and now the city's cultural centre, with exhibitions.

In between, the streets hold workshops of papier-mâché, wrought iron, terracotta and carved Lecce stone, good for a souvenir.

What to eat in Lecce: pasticciotto, iced coffee and ciceri e tria

Breakfast is a pasticciotto, shortcrust pastry filled with custard, and a Lecce-style coffee, an espresso over ice with almond milk.

Lunch is ciceri e tria, an old peasant dish of fresh pasta with chickpeas and crisp fried pieces of pasta. A rustico leccese is two discs of puff pastry around béchamel, tomato and mozzarella.

Lecce in winter: lit churches, nativity scenes, mild but not warm

Our programme describes Lecce at Christmas: the churches lit up, festive markets in the piazzas, nativity scenes in old courtyards, and roasting chestnuts and warm pastries in the air.

The World Meteorological Organization's long-term averages for Lecce give December and January highs of 13 to 14°C and lows of 4 to 5°C, with rain on seven or eight days a month. Those are averages, not a promise, so pack a warm coat and shoes for stone streets.

Lecce is day two of our hosted New Year week in Puglia

The week is based at Hotel Tesoretto, a four-star hotel in the Salento town of Poggiardo, where our group has all the rooms. WingsItaly meet you at the airport, and your host, Claire Dymond, and Andrea Dal Moro stay with you from there.

The first evening is a welcome aperitivo and a dinner of Puglian food and local wines. So after a leisurely breakfast and a short transfer the next morning, you walk into Lecce with people you have already shared a table with. The programme says excursions in the city will be offered nearer the time.

Groups are around fifteen people, and some reach twenty, and most people book on their own. The week is 5 nights, 28 Dec 2026 – 2 Jan 2027, from £1,139. See the dates and book online on the New Year in Puglia page.

New to group holidays on your own? Our first-time solo travellers page explains how it works. For more, see our holidays in Italy, culture and discovery holidays and over-50s solo holidays.

Cannot make New Year? An Italian-style cruise from Rome, or ancient Athens

Mediterranean Cruising Italian Style with WingsItaly is a hosted cruise with Claire Dymond and WingsItaly: 8 nights, 6 May 2027 – 14 May 2027, from £1,679. You fly to Rome a day early, then board the Costa Toscana at Civitavecchia, with drinks and gratuities included on board.

If it is the history you are after, Ancient Athens is a city break in Greece hosted by Jackie Whyte: 4 nights, 10 Mar 2027 – 14 Mar 2027, from £579. It starts with dinner together at a local restaurant, and offers a licensed guide at the Acropolis, a food tour and a trip to Cape Sounion, all optional.

Questions people ask

Is Lecce worth visiting?

Yes, if you like a city you can take slowly on foot. Italia.it calls its historic centre a true open-air museum, and its Baroque is distinctive enough to have its own name.

How long do you need in Lecce?

Two days gives you a taste, says italia.it, and a longer stay lets you take in the atmosphere and explore the area. On our New Year week Lecce has a day of its own, and the rest of the week takes in more of Puglia.

Where is Lecce?

In Puglia, in the north-central part of the Salento plain. After the Normans arrived, it became a county and later the capital of Salento. Our New Year week is based in Poggiardo, a short transfer away.

Can I have a room to myself?

Yes. Every Spice Escapes holiday has a single supplement or room-to-yourself cost. Our single supplement page explains how it works.

See the dates and book New Year in Puglia online

The Lecce day, the New Year's Eve gala and the rest of the programme are on the New Year in Puglia with WingsItaly page. See the dates and book online there. Availability today: 16 places left.

Claire Dymond hosts the week with WingsItaly. For a question about Lecce, the hotel or going on your own, she or anyone on the team can help through our contact page, or ask Rosie, the chat on the holiday page.