Best of Lecce

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Lecce
A mesmerizing feast of baroque architecture, Lecce dazzles the eye with its resplendent historical center, which is lined with buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. You’ll find dozens of striking churches and palazzi, along with a Norman-style castle and a trove of excellent museums. Lecce has been inhabited for over 2000 years, and you can see ancient Roman ruins in a horseshoe-shaped amphitheater that once held 15,000 spectators. 

Guided tours showcase the unique style of ornamentation known as barrocco leccese (Lecce baroque) that covers many of its historic facades. On buildings like the Basilica di Santa Croce, stonemasons left a wild collection of fantastical creatures, including gargoyles, gremlins, and asparagus-like columns. Lecce’s comfort cuisine is another big draw, and you can learn secrets of the trade during a hands-on cooking class.
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Polignano a Mare, Puglia
Map of Best of Puglia: Lecce, Otranto, & Alberobello - 5 days
Best of Puglia: Lecce, Otranto, & Alberobello - 5 days

Explore Puglia, the "heel of Italy," one of the country's southernmost regions, which welcomes visitors with olive trees, a sparkling turquoise sea, and whimsical towns and villages. Take a walking tour through Lecce, snap photos of the iconic trulli homes in Alberobello, and enjoy the beaches and cuisine this region is famous for.

Beach in Otranto
Map of Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce & Bari - 11 Days
Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce & Bari - 11 Days

If spending 11 relaxed days in the sunny Puglia region sounds like a dream come true, this packed itinerary is yours. See storybook Trulli in Alberobello, visit the 9,000-year-old Matera caves, and lounge on warm beaches. Explore Lecce's Baroque city center and spend a day in the lovely coastal town of Otranto before ending in Bari to see beautiful historic churches and a medieval city center. 

Sassi di Matera
Map of Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce, Bari - 14 Days
Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce, Bari - 14 Days

From fairytale Trulli homes to rocky sun-soaked beaches, this two-week trip to Puglia is perfect for travelers who want to see authentic Italy. See baroque architecture in Lecce, scrubby pine forests in Gargano National Park, and sunny southern towns of Otranto and Gallipoli. End your trip in the busy port city of Bari where a maze-like old town, deep-fried panzerotto, and 12th-century churches await.

Old port town of Gallipoli
Map of Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce & Bari - 9 Days
Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce & Bari - 9 Days

Spend nine days on the "heel" of the Italy boot on this packed Puglia itinerary. Start in Alberobello, where trulli homes, prehistoric caves, and ancient olive groves dot the landscape. Head down the coast to Lecce for Baroque architecture, sun-soaked towns, and rocky beaches. End in Bari to see religious icons, try delicious street food, and explore the medieval city center. 

Beach in Salento, Lecce
Map of Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce & Bari - 12 Days
Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce & Bari - 12 Days

Explore Roman theaters, relax in small coastal towns, and soak in the sunshine on this twelve-day itinerary of the incredible Puglia region. From Baroque castles in Lecce and fairy tale Alberobello to the whitewashed buildings in Otranto, this trip hits the region's highlights with a focus on authentic Italian life. You'll learn to make a typical Pugliese meal and swim on rocky beaches, then eat delicious fried street food on the winding medieval streets of Bari.

Street in the old town of Alberobello
Map of Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce, Bari - 15 Days
Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce, Bari - 15 Days

If you've already visited Italy's famous cities and crave an authentic experience, this comprehensive 15-day itinerary in Puglia is for you. Spend time in the busy port city of Bari and relaxed Lecce and visit the small sun-soaked coastal villages of Gallipoli, Leuca, and Otranto. Eat hand-made Orecchiette, go swimming on rocky beaches, and explore life on the peninsula from the ancient Matera caves to the 12th-century Basilica of St. Nicholas.

Resort town of Castro
Map of Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce & Bari - 10 Days
Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce & Bari - 10 Days

If you've explored Italy's famous highlights and want to see more, this 10-day Puglia itinerary is the perfect option. Explore Alberobello's history from medieval Trulli to prehistoric caves, then head south to Lecce for sunny beaches, sleepy fishing villages, and Baroque architecture. End in Bari in the north for 12th-century churches and delicious street food.

View of Peschici from Gargano National Park
Map of Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce, Bari - 7 Days
Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce, Bari - 7 Days

If you want to see the stunning Puglia region but are short on time, this packed 7-day itinerary is for you. Start in Alberobello to see the cone-shaped Trulli homes and ancient Matera caves, then head to Lecce to see Baroque architecture and a 2nd-century Roman amphitheater. End in Bari for religious icons, a medieval old town, and some of Italy's best street food.

Town of Polignano a Mare
Map of Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce, Bari - 13 Days
Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce, Bari - 13 Days

If thirteen days exploring the sunny Puglia region seems like a lucky break, then this packed itinerary is for you. Start in Alberobello to see cone-shaped Trulli, ancient Matera caves, and stunning Polignano a Mare beach. Continue to Lecce to for a half day cooking class and Baroque architecture, then end your trip in Bari for delicious street food, vibrant religious sites, and a full-day hiking trip to Gargano National Park.

Check out the fine details of the Baroque Basilica of Santa Croce, Lecce
Map of Bari, Alberobello & Lecce: Best Itinerary Ideas
Bari, Alberobello & Lecce: Best Itinerary Ideas

For most travelers, eight to 12 days is the perfect amount of time for an Italy trip with stops in Bari, Alberobello, and Lecce. It's also possible to hit the highlights in seven days if you don't mind a fast-paced journey. Travelers with more time can enjoy extra sights and activities at each stop or explore more of the country—some favored itinerary extensions include Naples. See more ideas for Bari, Alberobello, and Lecce itineraries below.

A cyclist in the narrow streets of Puglia
Map of Cycling In Southern Italy - 8 Days
Cycling In Southern Italy - 8 Days

Soak up the sunshine and go off the beaten track on this 8-day cycling expedition around Puglia in the heel of Italy's boot. You'll bike to lesser-known towns and villages on this moderate-level ride, pedaling through lush inland plateaux and down the coastline on mostly flat terrain. Enjoy southeastern Italy's historic sites, flavorful food, and natural beauty on this active tour.

Santa Maria di Leuca, Salento
Map of Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce & Bari - 8 Days
Laidback Puglia: Alberobello, Lecce & Bari - 8 Days

Spend a relaxing eight-day exploring medieval architecture and enjoying nature in Puglia. Begin your trip in Alberobello, where storybook trulli homes pack the town center. Take a day trip to Ostuni, spend the afternoon on a beach, and learn to cook a Pugliese meal in Lecce. Finish in Bari, where narrow city streets, a vibrant religious presence, and freshly-baked focaccia barese await.

Italy
Map of Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 9 Days
Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 9 Days

Discover Puglia, one of the lesser-visited yet stunningly beautiful regions of Italy. Over nine days you'll experience the highlights of this southern coastal region, including the ancient caves at Matera and the historic streets of Lecce and Bari. To cap the trip, you'll fly to Palermo, Sicily, where you'll discover the culture on walking tours plus visit Cefalú, one of the most beautiful beach towns on the island.

Houses on the Salento Peninsula
Map of South of Puglia and Matera Self-Drive Tour - 8 Days
South of Puglia and Matera Self-Drive Tour - 8 Days

Discover the best spots in southern Puglia and explore Matera's unique cave dwellings on this self-drive tour. Your trip begins in Bari, the regional capital. You'll wander the streets of Alberobello, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its famous trulli—cone-shaped, whitewashed houses that are unique to this part of Italy. From there, you'll travel to Matera, famed for its sassi, or cave dwellings, and explore the Lucanian Dolomites. You'll continue on to the Salento Peninsula, stopping at Lecce, the provincial capital, and using Otranto as a base for your explorations of the tip of the peninsula and the area's crystal-clear beaches. Along the way, you can hike, swim, or simply relax and enjoy views of some of southern Italy's most iconic towns and landscapes.

Italy
Map of Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 10 Days
Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 10 Days

Over 10 days you'll explore Puglia and Sicily, two of the most historic and culturally unique regions of Italy. You'll begin this southern adventure with a tour of colorful villages like Alberobello and ancient cave dwellings in Matera. Then you'll arrive on the island of Sicily,  where you'll embark on a street food tour of Palermo, visit Greek ruins at Segesta, and laze on the beaches of Cefalú. 

Italy
Map of Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 11 Days
Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 11 Days

Enjoy a different kind of vacation with this adventure in southern Italy. You'll arrive in the Puglia region and immediately visit historic cities like Alberobello, Matera, Lecce, and Bari. You'll then fly to Sicily, where you'll take a quick self-drive road trip around the island, stopping at ancient ruins and the historic beach town of Cefalú.

Crystal clear water, Puglia
Map of Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 12 Days
Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 12 Days

On this 12-day holiday in Italy, you'll visit ancient ruins and historic sights in two of Italy's most beautiful southern regions: Puglia and Sicily. Moreover, you'll enjoy various activities, from cooking classes to beach trips and even a hike up Mt. Etna. The best part is you'll finish the trip with a road trip around Sicily, visiting its most famous locales like the ancient Greek ruins at Syracuse.

Italy
Map of Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 13 Days
Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 13 Days

Ancient ruins, beautiful beaches, historic cities—you'll get all this and more on a 13-day tour of southern Italy. First up you'll visit cave dwellings and go on food tours in Puglia, the southernmost region of mainland Italy. Then you'll fly to the island of Sicily, which you'll discover on a road trip that will take you from postcard coastal towns to ancient Greek ruins in Syracuse.

Italy
Map of Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 14 Days
Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 14 Days

This two-week holiday combines anthropology and history with a road-trip adventure in two of Italy's most unique regions. First, you'll tour Puglia, Italy's "heel of the boot," which is home to beautiful beaches and ancient cities. Then you'll fly to Sicily for a road trip from the cultural melting pot of Palermo to ancient Greek and Roman ruins—plus enjoy a jaunt to Mount Etna. 

Italy
Map of Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 15 Days
Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 15 Days

In a little over two weeks you can enjoy comprehensive tours of southern Italy's most beautiful regions: Puglia and Sicily. The adventure begins in the former, where you'll visit historic cities on Italy's heel of the boot like Lecce, Bari, and Alberobello. Then it's off to Sicily, where on a self-drive road trip you'll discover Palermo, visit ancient Greek and Roman ruins, and hike up to Mt. Etna.

Cycling Tour of Southeast Italy - 8 Days
Map of Cycling Tour of Southeast Italy - 8 Days
Cycling Tour of Southeast Italy - 8 Days

Spend a week cycling through Italy's Apulia region in the Mediterranean southeast. Start in ancient Matera to see 9,000-year-old cave dwellings, then continue to the laid-back Ionian coast. Cycle through endless olive groves, white-walled coastal resort towns, and quiet country roads.

Italy
Map of Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 16 Days
Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 16 Days

This packed 16-day adventure combines the culturally rich region of Sicily with one of Italy's less-heralded gems: Puglia. First, you're off to the heel of Italy's boot, home to ancient and unique cities like Matera and Alberobello. Then you'll jet to Sicily, where you'll hop in a rental car and drive across the island, stopping at ancient Greek and Roman ruins along the way.

italy
Map of Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 17 Days
Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 17 Days

On this 17-day tour of Italy's southern regions, you'll go beyond medieval and Roman history and also visit the ruins of ancient civilizations. 9,000-year-old cave dwellings exist in the historic city of Matera, in Italy's Puglia region, but you'll also visit coastal gems like Lecce and Bari. The adventure culminates in Sicily with tours of Greek and Roman ruins and a hike up Mt. Etna.

Discover the historic town of Gravina in Puglia
Map of Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 18 Days
Puglia & Sicily Highlights - 18 Days

This 18-day itinerary covers two of southern Italy's most stunning regions: Puglia and Sicily. It begins in Puglia with visits to the cone-shaped trulli homes of Alberobello and the ancient cave dwellings in Matera. Then head to Lecce to see Baroque architecture and Roman ruins before experiencing the highlights of Sicily on a self-drive road trip.

Bikes on the coast of Apulia
Map of Apulia by Bike: Matera, Alberobello, Monopoli, Ostuni, Gallipoli, & Lecce - 12 Days
Apulia by Bike: Matera, Alberobello, Monopoli, Ostuni, Gallipoli, & Lecce - 12 Days

Active travelers will get a full dose of sea and countryside views as they bike their way through southern Italy. Begin in the prehistoric town of Matera, then pick up your bike and ride to the whimsical settlement of Alberobello with its conical trulli houses. Sample local wines and culinary delights in Cisternino, then soak up some sun in charming beach towns on the Adriatic like Monopoli, Gallipoli, and Polignano a Mare. End your trip with excursions to spectacular grottos, and stroll past Baroque architecture and Roman ruins in Ostuni, Otranto, and Lecce.