From local delicacies to some of Italy’s finest wines, discover our top five reasons to visit Lecce…
1. Puglian olive oil
At the heart of Lecce’s cuisine lies the region’s olive oil. Puglia produces around one-third of Italy’s total olive oil exports and the oil is also a staple ingredient in many of Lecce’s traditional dishes.
This liquid gold is so important that a week-long festival takes place in Lecce in June, dedicated to celebrating olives, olive oil and their roles in local cuisine.
2. Fresh-caught fish
With the city’s close proximity to the coast, fish is a popular ingredient.
Visit the fish market in Lecce before stopping at a local restaurant to sample pignata, a terracotta pot filled with octopus or tiaeddha – seafood with courgettes and cherry tomatoes.
3. Flavourful breads
Bread is an important product in Lecce and extra flavour is often given to the region’s oily dough with the addition of olives, onions, green vegetables and tomatoes.
When visiting the city, don’t miss frisella, a type of bagel soaked in water and flavoured with olive oil, tomatoes and salt.
4. Fine wines
The Puglia region produces some of Italy’s finest wines, so you will never be short of choice.
One of Lecce’s most popular wines is the Salice Salentino, available either as a rich Puglian red wine or a dark rosé.
There are two other wines of particular note: Squinzano DOC and Nardò.
5. Irresistible desserts
Desserts abound in Lecce, primarily in the form of pastry filled with cream or paste di mandorla, almond paste.
Make sure you try the torta pasticciotto, a traditional pastry crust packed with egg custard, or fruttone stuffed with marzipan and covered in chocolate
Want to know more? Take a tour of the Baroque city of Lecce