Lecce

Lecce is a historic city of 95,200 inhabitants in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Puglia.

It is the main city of the Salentine Peninsula, a sub-peninsula at the heel of the Italian Peninsula. According to legend, a city called Sybar existed at the time of the Trojan War, founded by the Messapii Italic tribe. Later it was occupied by the Iapyges and conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century BCE, receiving the new name of Lupiae.

• The church of the Theatines.
• Church of San Matteo, built in 1667.
• The Celestines' Convent (1549–1695).
• The Church of the Holy Cross (Chiesa di Santa Croce).
• Lecce Cathedral built in 1144, and rebuilt in 1230.
• The church of San Niccolò and Cataldo is an example of Italo-Norman architecture.
• Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
• Church of Santa Chiara (1429–1438), rebuilt in 1687.
• Church of San Francesco della Scarpa, known as the "church without facade".

• The archaeological museum 'Faggiano'.
• The Roman Amphitheatre, built in the 2nd century.
• The column holding the statue of Saint Oronzo (Lecce's patron).
• Torre del Parco ("Park Tower").
• The Sedile Palace was built in 1592.
• The Castle of Charles V was built in 1539-49.
• The Triumphal Arch (Arco di Trionfo, commonly called Porta Napoli, "Neapolitan Gate").
• Palazzo dei Celestini, now seat of the Province of Lecce.
• The city's obelisk, erected in 1822.

• Orto Botanico di Lecce, a botanical garden.