If you think the streets of Lecce are filled with beautiful Baroque decorations, then the churches will astound you!The Basilica of Santa Croce is considered to be the ultimate symbol of the Baroque in the Salento region.  It is magnificent!  This is a must-see, when you are in Lecce!  Next door to the basilica is the Pallazo della Provincia, with its ornate facade and beautiful courtyard.  Walk through the courtyard, to the other side of the building!Across the street from the palazzo are the Municipal Gardens, a small lovely park area.  The Museo Diocesano, located in Piazza Duomo, was mostly closed for renovations, while I was there, but I was able to visit the courtyard with its beautiful well, and a few small rooms off of the outdoor space.  Another must-see, when in Lecce, is the Museo Archeologico Faggiano.  This is a small, but richly filled museum/house, where one is given a map with numbered sights, and then left to oneself to explore.  You will find yourself walking down narrow stairwells, into underground spaces that used to be wells, granaries, or silos, and then climbing up to the second and third floors, where a convent existed for a while.  The visit is capped with a view of the city from the rooftop.  I loved this place, and I highly recommend including it in your visit!A pigeon was trapped in a bookstore window, but not for long!Lecce has not one, but two Roman theaters, the second one hidden along one of the small side streets.  Housed in the former Collegio Argento, which belonged to the local order of Jesuit priests, the Museo Provinciale Sigismondo Castromediano is also worth a visit, when in Lecce.  

Next up: Maglie!

Note: This blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations which may appear.  If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for more posts from bella Puglia, as well as other Italian destinations.  Grazie!