Postcards from Lecce 🖼⛪️🥘

Postcards from Lecce

The rests of the Roman Amphitheatre in Lecce

Positioned in the middle of the Italian heel and a bit isolated from the rest of the peninsula, Lecce has developed some unique cultural characteristic that set this charming city apart from the rest of the region. This is still witnessed by its historic centre remained substantially intact in its original footprint. One of this remnants is the relatively recently uncovered Roman amphitheater that stayed buried under the main square of the town until the beginning of the last century. This was an imposing circular stage for games and spectacles surrounded by elevated seats for an audience of around 25,000 people. It was probably built under the reign of emperor Augustus, around 2000 years ago. The space is now used for the hosting of cultural and arts events.

Traditional courtyard in Lecce’s old town

The rest of the old town preserves an amazing collection of large town houses used as urban residences by notable families, with imposing facades and pretty courtyards around which the traditional household life was centred. Main doorways were sufficiently large to allow for horse-drawn carriages to enter the building and be parked at night. These days carriages and horses have disappeared and these restored spaces can be turned into shaded gardens and maintain an important decorative function for the building.

Lecce’s position in the middle of the Salento’s peninsula also translates into a rich food culture centred around both fresh seafood and plenty of vegetables and other fresh produce from its countryside. Local restaurants proudly present to the visitors the varied culinary preparations stemming from the rich tradition of this land, My choice for lunch the last time I visited was a new restaurant offering home-made pasta and condiments resonating with dishes prepared for centuries in both peasant and noble households.