Discovering Lecce

Day 1: Arrival Lecce

Upon your arrival in Lecce reach the hotel on your own and check in (transfer available as an optional extra).  In the afternoon, enjoy a small group walking tour of the city (the tour starts at 15.00 hrs). In the evening, enjoy a private walking tour of the city. Discover the elegance and refinement of Lecce, a city that echoes history and art, on a 3-hour walking tour! Begin your walking experience in Piazza Sant'Oronzo and stroll through the historic center admiring Lecce's Baroque churches and monuments. During the tour, you will come across many artisan shops, that produce artefacts practicing the ancient art of papier-mâché. Your guide will tell you all you need to know about the importance of the city's Baroque art and the historical influences from the Roman era. Admire the Duomo, the Basilica of Santa Croce, the amphitheatre, and the Roman Theatre. Continue walking by the Castle of Charles V and have a look at its exterior as well as the facades of various ancient buildings. Overnight in Lecce.

Day 2: Lecce

After breakfast you will enjoy a small group tour to discover the famous culinary culture in Apulia. Attend a private cooking class in the morning or in the afternoon, learn the secrets of the Lecce recipes and have fun by learning how to reproduce the Italian specialities at home. Connect with local people, meet the Cesarina at her home and learn all her secrets to prepare local specialties. Finally, taste the fruit of your labor and experience the authentic flavors of Lecce cuisine paired with a selection of local red and white wines, as the Cesarine offer only wines of the territory. Le Cesarine is Italy’s first network of home cooks coordinated at a national level by a dedicated staff. The Cesarine are welcoming ambassadors of the Italian culinary heritage, animated by an authentic passion for traditional Italian cuisine. Every Cesarina has been carefully selected by experts to host gastronomic events in their own homes with local produce and refined menus, the result of authentic local recipes, handed down from generation to generation. Overnight in Lecce.

Day 3: Lecce – Puglian Vineyards – Lecce

After breakfast you’ll have the opportunity to discover the soul of Puglia with a guided vineyard visit and wine tasting in the heart of Negroamaro country. Just outside Lecce, this immersive experience takes you deep into a land shaped by ancient winemaking traditions, rich landscapes, and authentic local flavors. Begin your journey in the charming town of Guagnano with a visit to a historic winery, where you will learn about the traditions that have defined this region and the careful preservation of native grape varieties such as Negroamaro and Primitivo. Enjoy a guided walk through the vineyards, where the ancient Alberello training method is still practised, and discover the history, techniques, and passion that drive each harvest as you stroll among the vines. The experience continues with a visit to a truly unique artistic hermitage inspired by Gaudí, created by a local painter as a space dedicated to reflection, art, and nature, adding a distinctive cultural dimension to your time in the wine region. The tour concludes with a guided tasting led by a sommelier, featuring four exclusive wines paired with a traditional marenna, a rustic Puglian snack made with local cheeses and cured meats. Set across vineyards stretching between Guagnano and Campi Salentina, Feudi di Guagnano offers a diverse perspective on the region’s terroir and delivers an authentic and enriching insight into the wine identity of southern Italy. Overnight in Lecce.

Day 4: Departure Lecce

Enjoy your last breakfast in Lecce and if time permits take the last walk to say “arrivederci” to the city or do some shopping. Transfer to the airport or train station is available as an optional extra.