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Cultural & heritage · Lecce

Top 10 cultural & heritage things to do in Lecce

Heritage walks, museum days, temple complexes, and the kind of guides who explain why a place matters rather than reciting dates. The cultural side of Lecce, paced for actual seeing.

  1. Make pasta, drink wine. Cooking class with transported included!, Lecce1

    1. Make pasta, drink wine. Cooking class with transported included!

    5.0· 112 reviews· 4 hours

    What you will do will be an authentic sensory and cultural experience. Making fresh pasta by hand is a tradition deeply rooted in Salento culture and this course offers you a practical immersion in local life and customs, going beyond traditional tourist experiences. Learning will be practical and fun and the course will allow you to gain a skill that you can take home and replicate with friends and family. The course is aimed at small groups and therefore encourages direct interaction with hosts. While making the pasta with their own hands, guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, hear stories and receive personalized attention; for this, a human bond will be created that enriches the experience. The course is perfect for those traveling as a couple, family or small groups, allowing an intimate and fun sharing of the culinary experience.

  2. Lecce to Galatina E-Bike: Olive Mill & Wine Tasting + Taxi back, Lecce2

    2. Lecce to Galatina E-Bike: Olive Mill & Wine Tasting + Taxi back

    5.0· 58 reviews· 4.5 hours

    Explore the Lecce countryside on a premium E-bike along an easy flat 28 km (17-mile) route. Ride through quiet rural roads to ancient villages and discover Salento’s traditions. In Sternatia, meet Gaetano—a storyteller and poet who speaks Griko, the ancient Greek dialect of the Grecìa Salentina. With him, explore a 15th-century underground olive oil mill, hear a poem in Griko, and learn stories about lamp-oil traders, village life, and this unique cultural enclave. Continue through two villages of the Grecìa Salentina, home of the Griko people, a Greek-speaking community with 3,000 years of history. In Galatina, visit the Basilica of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, famous for its 14th-century Giotto-style frescoes. Stop at Pasticceria Ascalone, birthplace of the Pasticciotto (1740) At 1 PM, a private taxi (included) takes you back to Lecce. NOTE: Optional Primitivo wine tasting and traditional Puglian lunch (extra cost; private groups only; request one week in advance).

  3. Lecce to Gallipoli E-Bike Tour with Swim, Farm Tasting +Taxi back, Lecce3

    3. Lecce to Gallipoli E-Bike Tour with Swim, Farm Tasting +Taxi back

    5.0· 54 reviews· 6 hours

    Your adventure begins in the heart of Lecce’s old town, where we set off on e-bikes and follow peaceful countryside roads lined with vineyards, traditional masserias, and ancient olive groves. Our first stop is at the Farmer house (Pantaleo). Here you will try Olive oil and wine while Pantaleo's wife serves us puglian snacks. Next stop is Nardò, a charming baroque town where you’ll enjoy a relaxing coffee break. Try the famous caffè leccese—espresso over ice with almond syrup—and pasticciotto pastry. From Nardò, we ride toward the shimmering Ionian Sea and reach the seaside village of Santa Maria al Bagno, whose crystal-clear waters offer the perfect chance for a refreshing swim. We then continue cycling along the scenic coastline—mostly on dedicated bike paths—until we arrive in Gallipoli, known for its historic old town set on an island and surrounded by turquoise water. From Gallipoli a private taxi (included) will take you back to your hotel in Lecce in about 35 minutes.

  1. Lecce : 3 hours Hike in maria di Leuca the southern Tip of Puglia, Lecce4

    4. Lecce : 3 hours Hike in maria di Leuca the southern Tip of Puglia

    5.0· 10 reviews· 6 hours

    This interesting and fascinating 3 hours Hike embraces History, local villages, sea and country side surroundings.

  2. Lecce : E-Bike tour at sunset with typical aperitif, Lecce5

    5. Lecce : E-Bike tour at sunset with typical aperitif

    5.0· 9 reviews· 3.5 hours

    An evocative e-bike journey starts in the heart of Lecce, taking you through peaceful olive groves and quiet country roads to the Adriatic coast. The first stop is the picturesque fishing village of San Cataldo, where the sea breeze makes the ride even more pleasant. You then continue to the historic village of Acaya, exploring its medieval walls and timeless streets where you will stop to enjoy a typical aperitif with local cheeses, cold cuts, fresh vegetables and Cabin bread, all accompanied by regional wines. This experience encompasses the vibrant colors and authentic flavors of Puglia, offering a perfect end to your day. The tour can also be carried out with departure at dawn to enjoy the coolest hours of the day and a typical Salento Brunch.

  3. Otranto Private Tour: scenic town overlooking Adriatic sea, Lecce6

    6. Otranto Private Tour: scenic town overlooking Adriatic sea

    5.0· 8 reviews· 2 hours

    Described as the “Gateway to the East” and the most eastern of Italy’s cities, Otranto was founded thousands of years ago by Greeks from Crete. Explore this fascinating history through its main attractions. Discover the Otranto Cathedral, consecrated in 1088 and still the largest Romanesque building in Apulia. Admire the mosaic floor, made of thousands of tiles depicting scenes from the Old Testament and figures from Breton legends. Observe the columns believed to come from a Temple of Minerva and the bones and relics of the Martyrs of Otranto, killed during the 15th-century siege. Also admire the 42 marble columns supporting the crypt. Continue to the Church of St. Peter and the Aragonese Castle, reinforced by Frederick II and rebuilt by Alphonso II of Naples between 1485 and 1498, featuring an irregular five-sided plan and a moat surrounding the entire perimeter. Finally, enjoy the panoramic sea views: on clear days you can see the coasts of Greece and Albania across the Adriatic

  4. Discovering Lecce, Lecce7

    7. Discovering Lecce

    5.0· 265 reviews· 2 hours

    Group tour in English max 15 people, book your seat! to request a personalized tour write me a message before booking: mobile (via WhatsApp/iMessage): + 393287568899 instagram : discovering_lecce Welcome! We will take a tour of 2 through the streets and alleys of the old town, classical buildings, squares of extraordinary beauty, Baroque churches and monuments of Roman times...! Art, history, traditions... but also good food! it will be a pleasure to offer you our delicious 'coffee Leccese' on ice with almond extract and typical appetizers. Lecce will surprise you and this tour will be memorable!

  5. Ostuni, Alberobello and Polignano a Mare. Departing from Lecce, Lecce8

    8. Ostuni, Alberobello and Polignano a Mare. Departing from Lecce

    4.9· 201 reviews· 8 hours

    This tour will give you the opportunity to visit three significant villages in Puglia on a comfortable minivan with air conditioning and a professional driver who will give you information about the history of the towns and the places to visit

  6. Tour of Lecce with a visit to the basement of the ancient synagogue, Lecce9

    9. Tour of Lecce with a visit to the basement of the ancient synagogue

    4.8· 279 reviews· 1.5 hours

    The tour begins with a visit to the Underground Jewish Museum, where you will discover the fascinating Jewish and medieval history of the city. Here you can admire an underground room with tanks used for the purification of the body. You will continue the tour with a stop in front of the Church of Santa Croce, jewel of Lecce Baroque, to appreciate its exterior. You will explore the nearby Piazza Sant'Oronzo, the former market square with the Old Town Hall, the Roman Column and the remains of a Roman amphitheatre. Walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, you will discover beautiful Baroque palaces and the Church of Sant'Irene. Finally, you will end the tour in Piazza Duomo, one of the most renowned squares in the region, where you will admire the Archbishop's residence, seminary, bell tower and cathedral from the outside.

  7. Lecce Ultimate Street Food Tour - Small Group by Do Eat Better, Lecce10

    10. Lecce Ultimate Street Food Tour - Small Group by Do Eat Better

    4.8· 41 reviews· 3 hours

    Discover Lecce through its flavors on our city food tour, a journey through the charming streets of this beautiful Baroque town in the heart of Puglia. Taste the dishes locals love, from rich traditional recipes to the finest regional wines and olive oils. Every stop is carefully chosen to introduce you to authentic Salentine culinary traditions, showcase the best local eateries, and create an unforgettable food experience. Your guide is a passionate local “Foodie,” a friendly expert who shares insider tips, explains each dish, and reveals the history and stories behind every bite. Do Eat Better Experience tours combine high-quality gastronomy with an immersive cultural walk, offering a true taste of Puglian life. To ensure a personal, authentic experience, we welcome only small groups, so every guest receives our full attention and guidance. Please note that the tour is always run in English and Italian; other languages available upon request.

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