This will be a short post...but unfortunately, I was only in Lecce for a short time. To get home from Gallipoli, I had to take a train to Lecce first, and then change train lines to get to Bari. Lecce is another big southern Italy city, I guess kind of the "rival" to Bari. It's called "The Florence of the South" because of the Baroque-style architecture that is found there. I had been told that it was a place I should plan a trip to, so I wasn't disappointed that I had a couple hours to kill in between my trains. Also, I was very happy to get off this train that took me from Gallipoli to Lecce...
I bought my ticket home first (this time to the correct train) and started out on my usual wanderings. There was only one street out of the station, so I followed it until I saw some tall buildings and headed towards those. I'm sure if I would have seen the sea, I would have made a beeline there first...I guess tall buildings are my second priority.
Lecce was big. Old Town Bari was small and everything was packed in and tightly wound around the narrow streets. Gallipoli was more spread out and everything looked like it had just a little more breathing room. But Lecce...the streets were wider, the buildings were taller, even the cobblestones in the street were bigger. It almost felt like walking around in a giant's world. All the buildings were made of the same honey-colored pietra leccese stone, which was beautifully coordinated but made it easy to get lost in. It was more touristy than the other cities I have been to so far...I saw other people with maps and walking in circles with their phones like me. More people spoke English, but I overheard a lot of languages that were not English or Italian too. There still weren't the hordes of crowds that I am picturing for Rome or Venice though. I didn't have as much time to get as lost as I would have liked and I needed lunch, but I found myself wanting to keep walking (even with my "lightly" packed bag) instead of stopping for food. I was absolutely delighted when I turned a corner and suddenly came into this huge open square with impressive, ornate buildings.
Lecce was big. Old Town Bari was small and everything was packed in and tightly wound around the narrow streets. Gallipoli was more spread out and everything looked like it had just a little more breathing room. But Lecce...the streets were wider, the buildings were taller, even the cobblestones in the street were bigger. It almost felt like walking around in a giant's world. All the buildings were made of the same honey-colored pietra leccese stone, which was beautifully coordinated but made it easy to get lost in. It was more touristy than the other cities I have been to so far...I saw other people with maps and walking in circles with their phones like me. More people spoke English, but I overheard a lot of languages that were not English or Italian too. There still weren't the hordes of crowds that I am picturing for Rome or Venice though. I didn't have as much time to get as lost as I would have liked and I needed lunch, but I found myself wanting to keep walking (even with my "lightly" packed bag) instead of stopping for food. I was absolutely delighted when I turned a corner and suddenly came into this huge open square with impressive, ornate buildings.
I had to research it later, but I learned that I had found the Piazza del Duomo and was looking at the Lecce Cathedral and the five-story Bell Tower. This square is known as one of the most beautiful in Europe. The cathedral was originally built in 1144, and the elaborate entrance isn't actually the main facade...it leads to the side of the cathedral. It was just designed so that visitors entering the square wouldn't see a blank wall. To enter the cathedral, you walk through the less decorated door around the right corner that can't be seen when first entering the square. I never actually got to go in...but I would have if I had more time. I found another cathedral, another important looking building, and some fresh mozzarella for a quick lunch, but there was so much that I missed. I figured I would be able to figure out which cathedral and building I had seen later, but I haven't been able to yet. If anyone out there knows anything about these, please tell me! I hated being pressed for time while I was trying to soak it all in...I know I didn't see everything I needed to. There were still more honey-colored buildings, a Roman amphitheater, the Piazza Saint Oronzo and the Basilica of Santa Croce that I read about later. I wish I would have been more prepared and known a little more about the city before I went so I could have appreciated the landmarks I was seeing. Clearly, they are important. And I was just an ignorant tourist who had a couple hours to kill. I hope to go back and give the city the time it really needs to be visited.