Discover Lecce: Baroque, museums and Salento culture

Lecce combines ancient urban history, diverse Baroque churches, a wide range of museums and the broader cultural region of Salento. When choosing a hotel in Lecce, you can therefore tailor your trip to different interests: churches and collections in the city, archaeological sites or excursions into natural and coastal landscapes. Cycling culture, regional wines and the history of Jewish life are also among the topics that can shape your stay.

Baroque urban history and special museums

LeccEcclesiae is an exploration route through Lecce’s most important Baroque churches. The MUST – Museo Storico della città di Lecce offers another way to experience the Baroque heritage, with 3D virtual reality, an immersive virtual tour and 3D clips. At the same time, the MUST’s permanent archaeological exhibition covers the Messapian period, the Roman imperial era and the Middle Ages in Lecce’s history. In the same city, you can therefore encounter different ways in which the past becomes visible and understandable.

The Museo Ebraico di Lecce is located in a medieval palace on the site of a 15th-century synagogue in the city’s historic Jewish quarter. On display are basins for ritual washing, a doorpost niche for a mezuzah and the remains of the church building on the site of the former synagogue. The museum also conveys the traditions and history of the Jewish community that lived in Lecce in the late Middle Ages. At the Museo Diocesano d’Arte Sacra di Lecce, you can see paintings, sculptures, silverwork and liturgical vestments. The collection includes objects from the cathedral of Lecce’s liturgical treasury, particularly from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Ancient traces between museum and archaeological site

The Museo del Teatro Romano preserves archaeological finds from excavations that uncovered the ancient monument. The exhibition “Roma. La scena della vita” focuses on stage design and illusionistic representation in the Roman world. A model there reconstructs a large urban area of imperial-era Lupiae, ancient Lecce.

The Parco Archeologico di Rudiae encompasses the urban area founded by the Messapians and a Roman amphitheatre built under Trajan in the early years of the 2nd century AD. The tour begins in the Fondo Acchiatura area. There, you can visit two paved streets running at right angles to each other, a place of worship and a Hellenistic hypogeum. Mediterranean plants such as thyme, white-flowering rocket and orchids grow on the site.

The Museo Provinciale “Sigismondo Castromediano” is Apulia’s oldest museum. Its archaeological exhibitions trace the history of Salento from prehistoric times, particularly the Messapian and Roman periods. The MUSA – Museo Storico-Archeologico dell’Università del Salento extends across five rooms and documents the research findings of historians and archaeologists from the University of Salento in Salento and other Mediterranean regions. Its exhibition includes more than 300 artefacts from excavations by the University of Salento in Salento, archaeological reproductions and multimedia videos. The permanent exhibitions are accessible; MUSA also hosts temporary exhibitions and conferences open to everyone.

Art collections and railway history

The Pinacoteca d’Arte Francescana is housed in Palazzo Fulgenzio, a 16th-century building. It contains more than 300 paintings from the 16th to the 19th century. The exhibition also includes a collection of Apulian landscape painters from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as an exhibition area for papier-mâché sculptures. The Museo Ferroviario della Puglia displays 34 historic FS and FSE vehicles as well as five service vehicles. Railway memorabilia, models and signalling equipment are exhibited in the adjoining rooms.

Nature, coast and regional routes

More than 180 bird species live in the Riserva Naturale Oasi WWF Le Cesine at different times of the year. Visitors can observe wetland birds from observation hides. This makes the nature reserve a concrete destination for anyone wishing to combine urban and cultural interests with nature observation.

For cyclists, the Ciclovia del Salento Ionico runs along the coast from Ugento to Manduria through five parks and green areas. The route connects coastal and inland landscapes with art, culture and areas characterised by wine and culinary culture. SalentoinBus also facilitates access to the coasts, villages and numerous other places in Salento; the 2026 edition offers additional connections. An enogastronomic tour focusing on the Primitivo and Negroamaro wines is also offered in Salento.

The historic foundation of the Abbazia di Santa Maria di Cerrate also dates back a long way: it is dated to the period between the late 11th and early 12th centuries. At that time, Bohemond of Hauteville founded a community of Greek monks. This gives you a broad range of themes for planning your trip: you can get to know Lecce through its Baroque churches and museums, follow archaeological periods from the Messapian heritage to the Roman imperial era, or include nature, cycle routes and wine-growing in the broader context of Salento.

Further places for orientation

For further orientation, you can also explore the following places: Tricase Porto, Lecce, Corsano, Gagliano Del Capo, Castro Di Lecce, Gallipoli, Morciano Di Leuca, Porto Badisco, Lido Marini, Ugento, Marittima, Salve, Torre Dell'orso, Torre Pali, Torre San Giovanni, Zollino, Torre Chianca, Aradeo, Trepuzzi, Torre Rinalda, Minervino Di Lecce, Melendugno, Maglie, Giurdignano, Galatina, Alliste, Marina Di Mancaversa, Parabita, Martano, Fontanelle, Scorrano, Casamassella, Lizzanello, Collepasso, Vernole, Patù, Muro Leccese, Castrignano Del Capo, Supersano, Corigliano D’otranto, Cavallino, San Cassiano, Acaia, Otranto, Castrignano De' Greci, Strudà, Guagnano, Sannicola, Bagnolo Del Salento, Marina Di Andrano, Specchia, Cutrofiano, Presicce, Capilungo, Campi Salentina, San Cesario Di Lecce, Andrano, Casarano, Nociglia, Uggiano La Chiesa, Leuca, Marina Di Pescoluse, Sogliano Cavour, Taurisano, Seclì, Veglie, Vignacastrisi, Felline, Ruffano, Spongano, Borgagne, Surbo, Cerfignano, Santa Maria Al Bagno, Santa Caterina, Santa Cesarea Terme, San Cataldo, Tiggiano, Alessano, Salice Salentino, Marina Di Novaglie, Montesano Salentino, Merine, Tricase, Alezio, Torre Specchia Ruggeri, Calimera, Sanarica, Rosa Marina, Arnesano, Marina Di Ugento, Cursi, Marina Serra, Melissano, Sternatia, Carpignano Salentino, Torre Vado, Squinzano, Sant'isidoro, Porto Cesareo, Racale, Monteroni Di Lecce, Matino, Conca Specchiulla, Leverano, Torre Lapillo, Diso, Novoli, Vitigliano, Lequile, Copertino, San Pietro In Lama, Depressa, Cannole, Galugnano, Lucugnano, San Donato Di Lecce, Giuggianello, Taviano, Galatone, Carmiano, Soleto, Surano, Frigole, San Dana, Baia di Gallipoli, Torre Mozza, Ortelle, Acquarica Del Capo, Palmariggi, Collemeto, Punta Prosciutto, Gemini, Torre Saracena, Torre Suda, Villaggio Resta, Neviano, Poggiardo, Serrano, San Foca, Tuglie, Ruggiano, Marina San Gregorio, Marina di Marittima, Caprarica di Lecce, Melpignano, Baia Verde, Posto Rosso, Pacci, Rivabella, Nardò, Cocumola, Casalabate.

For the broader travel overview: Apulia.