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Lecce, lecce italy
Lecce

City of Lecce, Puglia

Lecce is the capital of the province of Lecce in Puglia. It is the most important city in the Salentine Peninsula and one of the most important in Puglia. The city was founded around 2,000 years old and by the 15th century had become one of the most important cities in southern Italy. Over this period Lecce was decorated with important Baroque monuments and under threat from an Ottoman invasion, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, rebuilt the defenses of the city along with a new castle.

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Lecce, lecce italy
Pretty window in Lecce - Photo: www.understandingitaly.com

Rich in history, architecture, art and culture, Lecce has been called 'The Florence of the South'. The city was also the seat of the first Christian bishop, Orontius of Lecce, who became the patron saint of the city.

Lecce, lecce italy
Typical street in Lecce - Photo: www.understandingitaly.com

The 'Lecce Stone', from which much of the city is built, is an important export for the area. Lecce is also a leading agricultural producer particularly for olive oil and wine and the area around Lecce also specialises in the production of ceramics.

Lecce, lecce italy
Lecce stone - Photo: www.understandingitaly.com

Lecce is rich in monuments and important buildings. The most important is the Church of the Holy Cross (Chiesa di Santa Croce). It was begun in 1353, but work was halted until 1549, to be completed only in 1695. Next to the church is the Government Palace, a former convent.

Lecce, lecce italy
Church of the Holy Cross - Photo: Tango7174

Lecce Cathedral is also one of the most significant cathedrals in Italy. It was originally built in 1144, and rebuilt in 1230. It was totally restored in the years 1659-70 by Giuseppe Zimbalo, who also built the bell tower which is 70 metre high. It is built over five storeys and has an octagonal loggia.

Lecce, lecce italy
Lecce Cathedral - Photo: www.understandingitaly.com

The Roman Amphitheatre is well preseved and is an impressive sight positioned at the side of Sant'Oronzo Square in the centre of Lecce. It was built in the 2nd century and in its heyday could seat more than 25,000 people. It is only partially visible now as other monuments have been built above it over the years. The theatre is still used today for various religious and arts events in the city.

Lecce, lecce italy
Roman Amphitheatre - Photo: www.understandingitaly.com

The column of Saint Orontius (Oronzo) towers over the main square. The column was a gift from the nearby city of Brindisi as Saint Orontius was credited with having saved that city from the plague. The column was one of a pair that stood in the centre of Brindisi to mark the end of the Appian way that ran from Rome to the south of Italy.

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Lecce, lecce italy
Column of St. Orontius - Photo: www.understandingitaly.com

Lecce
Population: 93,302
Male: 43,461
Female: 49,841
Polulation density: 391.4 per square km

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Lecce, lecce italy

More Details

Flag of Puglia
  • Regional Information

    • Area: 19,366 km²
      Population: 4 million
      Density: 210/km²
      Capital: Bari

      National Parks:
      The Alta Murgia National Park
      The Gargano National Park
Location of Puglia
Provinces of Puglia
  • Comunes of Puglia
    • Bari
      • Acquaviva delle Fonti
        Adelfia
        Alberobello
        Altamura
        Bari
        Binetto
        Bitetto
        Bitonto
        Bitritto
        Capurso
        Casamassima
        Cassano delle Murge
        Castellana Grotte
        Cellamare
        Conversano
        Corato
        Gioia del Colle
        Giovinazzo
        Gravina in Puglia
        Grumo Appula
        Locorotondo
        Modugno
        Mola di Bari
        Molfetta
        Monopoli
        Noci
        Noicàttaro
        Palo del Colle
        Poggiorsini
        Polignano a Mare
        Putignano
        Rutigliano
        Ruvo di Puglia
        Sammichele di Bari
        Sannicandro di Bari
        Santeramo in Colle
        Terlizzi
        Toritto
        Triggiano
        Turi
        Valenzano

    • Barletta-Andria-Trani
      • Andria
        Barletta
        Bisceglie
        Canosa di Puglia
        Margherita di Savoia
        Minervino Murge
        San Ferdinando di Puglia
        Spinazzola
        Trani
        Trinitapoli

    • Brindisi
      • Brindisi
        Carovigno
        Ceglie Messapica
        Cellino San Marco
        Cisternino
        Erchie
        Fasano
        Francavilla Fontana
        Latiano
        Mesagne
        Oria
        Ostuni
        San Donaci
        San Michele Salentino
        San Pancrazio Salentino
        San Pietro Vernotico
        San Vito dei Normanni
        Torchiarolo
        Torre Santa Susanna
        Villa Castelli

    • Foggia
      • Accadia
        Alberona
        Anzano di Puglia
        Apricena
        Ascoli Satriano
        Biccari
        Bovino
        Cagnano Varano
        Candela
        Carapelle
        Carlantino
        Carpino
        Casalnuovo Monterotaro
        Casalvecchio di Puglia
        Castelluccio dei Sauri
        Castelluccio Valmaggiore
        Castelnuovo della Daunia
        Celenza Valfortore
        Celle di San Vito
        Cerignola
        Chieuti
        Deliceto
        Faeto
        Foggia
        Ischitella
        Isole Tremiti
        Lesina
        Lucera
        Manfredonia
        Mattinata
        Monte Sant’Angelo
        Monteleone di Puglia
        Motta Montecorvino
        Ordona
        Orsara di Puglia
        Orta Nova
        Panni
        Peschici
        Pietramontecorvino
        Poggio Imperiale
        Rignano Garganico
        Rocchetta Sant’Antonio
        Rodi Garganico
        Roseto Valfortore
        San Giovanni Rotondo
        San Marco in Lamis
        San Marco la Catola
        San Nicandro Garganico
        San Paolo di Civitate
        San Severo
        Sant’Agata di Puglia
        Serracapriola
        Stornara
        Stornarella
        Torremaggiore
        Troia
        Vico del Gargano
        Vieste
        Volturara Appula
        Volturino

    • Lecce
      • Acquarica del Capo
        Alessano
        Alezio
        Alliste
        Andrano
        Aradeo
        Arnesano
        Bagnolo del Salento
        Botrugno
        Calimera
        Campi Salentina
        Cannole
        Caprarica di Lecce
        Carmiano
        Carpignano Salentino
        Casarano
        Castri di Lecce
        Castrignano de’ Greci
        Castrignano del Capo
        Castro
        Cavallino
        Collepasso
        Copertino
        Corigliano d’Otranto
        Corsano
        Cursi
        Cutrofiano
        Diso
        Gagliano del Capo
        Galatina
        Galatone
        Gallipoli
        Giuggianello
        Giurdignano
        Guagnano
        Lecce
        Lequile
        Leverano
        Lizzanello
        Maglie
        Martano
        Martignano
        Matino
        Melendugno
        Melissano
        Melpignano
        Miggiano
        Minervino di Lecce
        Monteroni di Lecce
        Montesano Salentino
        Morciano di Leuca
        Muro Leccese
        Nardò
        Neviano
        Nociglia
        Novoli
        Ortelle
        Otranto
        Palmariggi
        Parabita
        Patù
        Poggiardo
        Porto Cesareo
        Presicce
        Racale
        Ruffano
        Salice Salentino
        Salve
        San Cassiano
        San Cesario di Lecce
        San Donato di Lecce
        San Pietro in Lama
        Sanarica
        Sannicola
        Santa Cesarea Terme
        Scorrano
        Seclì
        Sogliano Cavour
        Soleto
        Specchia
        Spongano
        Squinzano
        Sternatia
        Supersano
        Surano
        Surbo
        Taurisano
        Taviano
        Tiggiano
        Trepuzzi
        Tricase
        Tuglie
        Ugento
        Uggiano La Chiesa
        Veglie
        Vernole
        Zollino

    • Taranto
      • Avetrana
        Carosino
        Castellaneta
        Crispiano
        Faggiano
        Fragagnano
        Ginosa
        Grottaglie
        Laterza
        Leporano
        Lizzano
        Manduria
        Martina Franca
        Maruggio
        Massafra
        Monteiasi
        Montemesola
        Monteparano
        Mottola
        Palagianello
        Palagiano
        Pulsano
        Roccaforzata
        San Giorgio Ionico
        San Marzano di San Giuseppe
        Sava
        Statte
        Taranto
        Torricella

Hotels in Puglia
PugliaWEATHER
Puglia Climate (Bari)
  High Low Sun Rain
Jan 9 2 3 55
Feb 11 3 4 53
Mar 13 4 5 63
Apr 17 7 6 55
May 21 11 8 35
Jun 25 15 9 44
Jul 28 17 10 34
Aug 28 17 9 54
Sep 25 14 7 61
Oct 20 11 6 74
Nov 15 8 4 71
Dec 12 3 3 77
Table Key:
High - Average monthly high temperatures
Low - Average monthly low temperatures
Sun - Average hours of sunshine per day
Rain - Average monthly rainfall in mm
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