Lecce

Also known as the Florence of the South, Lecce is among the not-to-be-missed destinations when visiting Apulia. The white stones of Lecce, the historical wonders, the elegance of its Baroque architecture will make your next 48 hours unforgettable.

A small Baroque jewel in the heart of Lecce Teatro Politeama Greco in Lecce is adjacent to the Carlo V Castle. Built in 1737, it is southern Italy’s second most important theater, after the well-known San Carlo Theater in Naples. Home to opera and symphony seasons and known as a traditional theater, it later became a national monument in 1979. Famous names from the world of opera and classical music who have appeared at Politeama Greco include Tito Schipa, Ennio Morricone and Katia Ricciarelli appointed as artistic director. With a seating capacity of 998 people,including 693 in the stalls, 2 tiers of boxes with 130 and 105 seats respectively and a gallery of 60 seats, in addition to the opera and symphony season, the theater offers ​​plays, musicals, cabaret shows, ballet performances, concerts and organizes parallel activities that include events, exhibitions, workshops and theater tours.

The Basilica di Santa Croce in Lecce, a splendid example of Baroque style In the heart of the Apulian capital of Lecce stands a small gem of great historical, artistic and cultural importance: the Basilica di Santa Croce, the city's first Baroque-style building. Location and historical background You will find the Basilica di Santa Croce in Lecce on Via Umberto I, in the historic centre, next to another important structure: the former convent Palazzo dei Celestini. Initially, the two buildings were part of the same monastic complex, but when the religious order ceased to exist in the early 19th century, the church was abandoned. The Palazzo was repurposed to house public offices, now acting as the seat of government for the Province and Prefecture. Almost thirty years later, the church was returned to the Archconfraternity of the Most Holy Trinity. Considered by 19th-century Lecce contemporaries to be an overly ornate and in some aspects grotesque church, it kicked off the emergence of the Baroque style in the city, though the church's foundation stone was actually laid in 1353 by Count of Lecce Gualtieri VI of Brienne. It only became a basilica in the early 20th century, under Pope Pius X. In the 16th century, the Basilica di Santa Croce began to expand, requisitioning the homes of local Jews. This expansion project lasted almost two hundred years and involved several illustrious architects and artists, including Gabriele Riccardi, Francesco Antonio and Giuseppe Zimbalo, and Cesare Penna. A decadent style When you stand before the Basilica di Santa Croce, you can’t help but be struck by the church's decorations and style, pompous, rich, almost overflowing, as per Baroque designs and models. You will notice in particular the rose window on the façade of Santa Croce and the inlays on the tympanum and balcony. You can head inside through one of three doors to discover an explosion of decorations, though the architecture is more functional than the exterior. The altar is adorned with 12 bas-reliefs by Francesco Antonio Zimbalo and is located under the beautiful dome beautifully decorated with flowers, leaves and angels. The apse depicts several scenes, including the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Annunciation of Mary, Mary and Elizabeth, and an episode of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt. The side chapels house masterpieces of religious art, rich in detail and ornamentation. Here’s an interesting fact: the Basilica di Santa Croce in Lecce has a total of 16 altars (including two masterpieces by Cesare Penna) and a magnificent 16th-century fresco of the Madonna of Constantinople. It is truly a place of mysticism, magic and beauty, enchanting all who cross its threshold.

Apulia has long been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for its natural and geographic attributes a bridge between East and West, it is a promontory that separates the Adriatic from the Ionian Sea. A hamlet of Castrignano del Capo, in the Province of Lecce, Santa Maria di Leuca is the southernmost point in Salento, striking the visitor’s eye for its colors and unreal silence. At the center of it all is the Church, the original Santa Maria: first a sanctuary, today it is the Basilica of Santa Maria De finibus terrae (at the ends of the earth).

From Gargano to Salento to Val d'Itria and cities of art. Apulia by bike: nature, delightful villages, typical flavours and historic sites. Passing by trulli, dry stone walls and thousand-year-old olive trees: five cycling itineraries of different levels of difficulty for in-depth exploration. A generous land which will also welcome stages of the Giro d'Italia.

There is more to Puglia than the classic tourist destinations, especially for those who love to explore and are looking for unusual itineraries. A trip "off the beaten track" is what is needed to say goodbye to monotony, get out of the routine and venture into the hidden heart of the Bel Paese. This is how photojournalist Lorenzo Scaraggi discovered an undiscovered Puglia on board a camper van from the 1990s. Thus was born Puglia Fuori Rotta, a documentary centred on a 30-day journey that, thanks to little-trodden paths, reveals a region with a mysterious and surprising side. Here are the five stages of Puglia Fuori Rotta, each to be experienced with all the senses.