Lecce

Well! Lecce is full of surprises, I love it., a church on every corner almost, and just so picturesque. The buildings are all the beautiful warm ochre stone, some of it worn away and beautifully textured.  So many little treats down little paths and through doorways. So gorgeous! The stone is called 'Lecce stone' (oddly enough) and there are shops selling gorgeous lamps carved from the stone. Tempting to bring some home for lighting at my front door!

Want some history?

Lecce is about 2000 years old,  and is often called the 'Florence of Puglia' because of the baroque style buildings. These are incredibly ornate, the most gorgeous carved exterior details - the photos just don't do them justice because they are so grand, but I just can't stop trying to capture them. Statues, grotesque animals, angels...

 For horse tethering? In the absence of horses, great for bike tethering.

This stunning arch is in the street that my apartment is on.

Caper berry plant growing on the building.

There are 22 churches ranging from the subtle to the not so subtle. I still can't get my head around why there are so many churches in what would have been a population of less than there is now. Some of them are only 20 meters from another one.  I've only been in a few because a lot of them are linked with a ticket that you need to purchase from the tourist agency. 

There are three ornate gates leading into the city - it was originally the resting place on the main road to Rome. (You see, all roads do lead to Rome!). 

The streets are paved with large flagstones, so the car tyres make that gorgeous sound when they drive past.

 There is an amazing 2nd century Roman amphitheatre which seats up to 25,000 people. 

Imagine finding that during construction. From the 15th Century it was one of the most important cities of Southern Italy, and it is from this time that the Baroque style buildings and churches were built - the wall circling the city was erected at that time as the city was prospering. In 1656 a plague broke out and 1000 of the population died.

Chiesa de Santa Croce is the most beautiful example of the Baroque style - so detailed and elegant on the exterior and an ornate white interior. (check out the dog walking past, couldn't resist).

I'm intrigued by the different door knockers as I wander around the streets so here are some samples

 - the doors are large and impressive - some have vehicle access into an internal courtyard, others have a lintel that you step across into an elaborate hall where separate apartments are accessed. This makes a private cool area away from the noise and heat of the town.

And this gorgeous couple were walking in front of me -  midnight blue stilettos to match the midnight blue shawl - not easy wearing stilettos on these streets, but she was owning it!