Outdoor seating sits in the courtyard of Palazzo Zimara in Lecce, Italy. Palazzo Zimara also has a concierge team that can curate local experiences, city tours, cooking classes, and access to private ...

Often called the “Florence of the South”, Lecce is packed with ornate Baroque churches, golden‑stone palaces and winding alleys that always seem to lead to another little piazza. There are heaps of ...

Exploring the architectural gems of Lecce is more of a dictate than an option; they are everywhere. All of the buildings have facades carved of the local, soft sand-colored stone called leccese . Many ...

LECCE, Italy -- In Italy, everything begins - or ends - with an espresso. There was a beaming September sun shining on the narrow Via Torino the Sunday morning we arrived early in Rome. From where we ...

Nestled right down in the heel of Italy’s boot, Lecce is called the “Florence of the South”, known for its extravagant Baroque architecture and winding old town. With a population hovering around ...

It’s not easy to carry a basilica on your shoulders, but, despite the summer heat, these men aren’t breaking a sweat. Carved into the honey-hued exterior of the Basilica di Santa Croce, the stone ...

Puglian winemaker Massimiliano Apollonio shares tips on the best cafes, museums, parks and bike rides in his beautiful southern city Lecce is renowned for its cucina povera – it literally means “poor ...

Thanks to dozens of mostly Baroque churches packing its maze of narrow streets, Lecce — the “Florence of the South” — dazzles with elaborately carved facades and interiors that erupt with symphonies ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I cover the world’s best hotels, restaurants and wine. The Italian Baroque flourished in the South more than in the North, but ...