Lecce, Historical city in Salento region, Italy
Lecce is a city in the Apulia region of southern Italy, about 40 kilometers from the Adriatic coast. The old town consists of narrow lanes between baroque buildings, small squares, and churches with richly decorated facades of local limestone.
The Messapii founded the settlement Sybar here around 200 BC, which the Romans later renamed Lupiae. In the 16th and 17th centuries the city experienced intense construction under Spanish rule, which shaped its present appearance.
The name Lecce comes from the Latin Lupiae, which the Romans gave to the ancient Messapian settlement. Today the honey-colored limestone from nearby quarries gives the facades and portals their warm glow, especially visible at sunset.
The center is largely car-free, so you can easily walk between the sights. Most churches and buildings lie within a manageable area that can be explored in one or two mornings.
Beneath Piazza Sant'Oronzo lies a Roman amphitheater from the 2nd century, discovered only in the 1930s during construction work. Today about half of the old arena is uncovered and open to visitors.
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