Ines Santos visited Lecce, a city in Southern Puglia often described as the 'Florence of the South', to see if the comparison held up. She found a beautiful city with a warm, golden glow, but a very different atmosphere to the Tuscan capital.
Architecture: Baroque and Golden Limestone
Before entering Lecce's historic centre, Santos stopped to admire the city's three historic gates: Porta Napoli, Porta Rudiae and Porta San Biagio. Each is imposing. The centre is packed with ornate Baroque buildings, elaborate churches and grand squares.
Unlike Florence, Lecce has a distinctive colour. Many of its buildings are made from Lecce limestone, giving the city a warm, golden glow in the sunshine. Florence is known for its terracotta rooftops and Renaissance palaces.
Atmosphere: A Living City
Florence can feel like an enormous museum, while Lecce feels much more like a living city. Locals sit outside cafes, and people go about their everyday lives. Santos found the atmosphere more relaxed than Florence, with less of a tourist trail feel.
Lecce does not have the same world-famous museums or vast collections of Renaissance paintings as Florence. Instead, the city itself is the attraction. Ancient Roman remains sit alongside modern life.
The Roman Amphitheatre in Piazza Sant'Oronzo, surrounded by restaurants and shops, was one of Santos's favourite examples. It feels very different from an attraction designed purely for tourists.
Food: Puglian Flavours
Florence is known for hearty, meaty Tuscan food, while Lecce's cuisine is firmly Puglian, with lighter dishes often centred around bread, fish and seafood. The desserts differ too. Lecce's signature sweet is pasticciotto, a warm pastry filled with creamy custard.
Santos also tried caffè leccese, an iced espresso made with sweet almond syrup, which she found exactly what she needed on a hot day. Casual food was more prominent in Lecce, with plenty of paninis and quick bites around the city.
Verdict: Worth Visiting
Santos concluded that Lecce is absolutely worth visiting after Florence, but not for the same experience. The 'Florence of the South' nickname makes sense when looking at the architecture, as both cities are incredibly beautiful with enough historic buildings to keep visitors wandering for hours.
However, Lecce has no Florence-style museums, no famous hills overlooking the city, and no huge list of Renaissance masterpieces. Instead, it offers golden limestone, elaborate Baroque architecture, ancient Roman ruins and Puglian food. For Santos, that was part of the charm.
Lecce can be visited as part of Great Rail Journeys' eight-day 'Hidden Gems of Southern Puglia' trip, starting from £1,799 per adult, based on double occupancy. The price includes return flights from London Gatwick or Heathrow to Brindisi, accommodation at a four-star all-inclusive resort, all coach travel, and guided tours and excursions.
