Lecce, Italy: attractions, hotels, weather, reviews

Italy is so popular with the domestic tourist that it is already difficult to imagine its streets without Russian speech. The secret of the success of this European country is simple. Here you can get a great beach holiday on the Mediterranean coast, super-rich "excursion", stay at developed ski resorts and profitable shopping.

Italy for travelers

They often come here to see the Pantheon and the Colosseum, the Valley of the Temples and the Trevi Fountain. Tours to Italy from Moscow and other Russian cities are incredibly popular among those who like a good beach holiday. In addition, in this country seek to get aesthetes and gourmets, as well as connoisseurs of works of art.

The cost of the trip depends on several factors: from the season, from the route, from the chosen hotel, etc. On average, tours to Italy from Moscow cost an average of one person for about nine hundred euros in high season for two weeks. This amount includes accommodation (at the rate of twenty-five cu per night), food, medical insurance, round-trip airfare, visa and consular fees. A somewhat cheaper trip will not cost a trip to such large cities as Rome, Naples or Milan, but those that many domestic tourists do not know exist but are no less attractive for recreation and sightseeing. One of these cities is Lecce. Italy is so amazing that it's difficult to say at once what attracts more to it. But, according to experienced travelers, in order to experience its spirit, one should visit small towns and remote regions. It is here that the unexplored Italy will open for tourists: Apulia, Veneto, Umbria, Tuscany, etc. There are twenty regions in the country, each of which is interesting in its own way.

Apulia

This region is in the south of the country. If you look at the map, you can see what is the heel of the "boot" Apulia. Until recently attracted Russian tourists with its big cities, where many famous sights, developed infrastructure, etc. However, over the past few years the situation has changed. Today in the list of tourist routes for a country such as Italy, Apulia is already far from the last place. It is famous for its pretty towns, built in the baroque style, traditionally local trulli (the people here call small houses), resembling the hut of the hobbit or the resident of Oz, the abundance of sun, magnificent olive groves and fruit gardens, sandy beaches with many kilometers and delicious cuisine. On the left, Puglia is washed by the Ionian, and on the right by the Adriatic Sea. Although they are considered part of the Mediterranean, however, recreation in the region is somewhat different. In the hottest season, when at many resorts there is a ringing hell, in Apulia there is even a light breeze. One of the resorts of the region is Lecce, Italy.

general information

This small, but very picturesque town is the capital of the province of the same name. As soon as the locals do not call Lecce: and the Apulian Athens, because there are ethnic Greeks here, and Southern Florence because of the abundance of Baroque-style architectural monuments and the Golden Town, after all, a limestone breed is mined here which, over time, acquires a golden hue . Many buildings have been built from this stone in Lecce. Judging by the reviews of those who have already visited this resort, they are cast in the sunlight in gold.

The patron of the city is St.. Orontia. Many churches and temples in Lecce (Italy) are dedicated to him - the first bishop of the province and according to tradition - the disciple of the apostle Paul himself. This sacred martyr repeatedly suffered for the faith and was subsequently awarded for it. The city has a real Italian way of life. On weekdays there is silence and peace, but on the weekends it is incredibly animated: the streets are flooded with people, interesting processions and performances take place.

Baroque City

In the world there are a lot of settlements, pleasing with such purely resort components, like the sea, the sun, wonderful nature, etc. And there are also especially "excursion" cities in which tourists every day discover new places for themselves . Located in the region of Apulia, the small town of Lecce (Italy) combines both these hypostases. It's hard to say what attracts in the first place: grand architecture in baroque style or a cozy coast. Lecce covers an area of about two and a half hundred square kilometers. About 100 thousand people live in it. Here, modern high-rise buildings incredibly organically coexist with ancient ruins.

Beach vacation and weather

As with any resort, Lecce has a high season, coming from the first decade of June to the end of October. The sea is best warmed up in August. It is at this time to the coast of the region of Lecce going to various ships - from light yachts to solid liners. In high season, beach holidays can be combined with sightseeing tours. For beauty, incredibly azure color, crystal transparency of the water and the whiteness of local beaches, the region of Lecce is rightly called the Italian Maldives. With this it is difficult not to agree, although from the city itself, many bathing areas are at a certain distance.

How to get to Lecce (Italy)

To get to this resort, tourists will have to make a small trip. Lecce does not have its own airport. The simplest option is to get to Salento or Bari. In high season, direct charter flights fly from Moscow. This is a very convenient way to be on the heel of Italy without a change. Those who have an international driving license can immediately rent an automobile at the airport in the same Bari and drive to Lecce in two hours. You can go to the resort and by train.
Another way is to get to Brindisi with a transfer in the Italian capital. From here to Lecce directly from the airport shuttle shuttle runs. The first departure at nine in the morning, the last at twenty minutes of the twelfth night. The journey time is a maximum of forty-five minutes. The ticket costs eight and a half euros.

Hotels

In this city there are many options for living. Those who prefer a truly royal comfort can stay at the Patria Palace Hotel, located within the walls of the Palazzo D'Anna-Petrarolo, dating back to the eighteenth century. It is located in the heart of Lecce, a stone's throw from the famous Basilica of Santa Croce. The rooms of this hotel are decorated in an Art Deco style, on the ceilings and walls of the fresco by John Duggan. Tourists who chose Palazzo Persone will be able to live in the former synagogue. There are only six apartments in this hotel. In general, the resort has many options for inexpensive, but not less comfortable living.

In the Old Town area, almost all hotels in Lecce (Italy), B & B, are in close proximity to local attractions. Many of their rooms have a large enough area and well-equipped kitchens. This makes the stay at the resort comfortable even for those who travel with young children.

sights

A city of creativity, aesthetes and hedonists, many call Lecce. The sights of this small village are numerous, but they are quite compact. In order to see them, tourists do not need to carefully think through routes. It's only a few hours to get around the whole Old Town, if, of course, the weather permits. Lecce, Italy attracts travelers with its history, legends about temples and aristocratic houses, which can be seen literally at every step. Its main attraction is the Basilica Di Santa Croce - a true triumph of baroque. The facade of this temple perfectly fulfills the function inherent in it - it frightens and pacifies. A pile of scrolls and birds, half-naked female figures and angels will not hurt to notice sculptural images of Turkish soldiers instead of Atlanteans, traditional for Baroque. This is how the architects glorified the victory won by the Holy League over the Ottoman army. The center of the city is Piazza del Duomo. In this square there is a bishop's palace, as well as a library and a seminary. All of them belong to the work of Giuseppe Chino. In the seminary today there is a museum where gifts of parishioners are exposed.

It is better to start the excursion route directly from the railway station. The boulevard from which leads straight to the cathedral, located on the same area of the Duomo. It is considered one of the most outstanding cathedrals in all of Italy. Built in the twelfth century and completely reconstructed in the middle of the seventeenth century, the church thanks to its seventy-meter bell tower is still visible from afar.

Not far from the square is the church of St. Irina. Interesting events are held annually in the adjoining monastery. The most beautiful and original of them is the Christmas exhibition ... of the den. Tourists should definitely look and another area of Lecce, named in honor of St. Orontia. Here is the Roman amphitheater of the era of Emperor Augustus. Another attraction is the castle erected by the order of Charles V. He was supposed to protect the city from the Turkish raids of the Turks.

City of masters

It may give the wrong impression that Lecce is only a unique architecture. But this is not so. No less important chapter in the history of the city are the traditions of local craftsmen who create papier-mache sculptures, of any shape. For the first time such workshops appeared in here in the seventeenth century, and since then this craft has been associated with the "golden" Lecce.
They are located throughout the city. Most local craftsmen work on ordered by them sculptures of saints, crucifixes and Christmas dens, designed for churches and churches around the world. And if you're lucky, tourists can attend to the "birth" of a new saint, created in Lecce, Italy.

Reviews

The overwhelming majority of our compatriots are absolutely delighted with the trip to this city. Sights here - at every turn. Those who come to Lecce for one day, quite have time to examine them. I must say that there is discontent with the fact that the beaches from the city itself are remote. The nearest one is twelve kilometers from the center. Nevertheless, if you rent a car for a rest period, you can not only travel the whole area, but also the beaches. As for hotels, then, judging by the reviews, they are not happy with their infrastructure and prices.