Church of the Holy Cross, Lecce

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Church of the Holy Cross, Lecce: Our most recommended tours and activities

Lecce: Baroque Architecture and Underground Walking Tour

Lecce: Baroque Architecture and Underground Walking Tour

The tour starts with an external visit to the majestic Santa Croce Church, the jewel in the crown of Lecce’s Baroque architecture. From here, explore the nearby Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the former market square where you can find the Old Town Hall, the Roman Column, and the remains of a huge Roman amphitheater. Continue the tour with a walk through Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which boasts stunning Baroque palaces and the recently restored Sant’Irene Church. Arrive at the breathtaking Piazza Duomo next, one of the most critically praised architectural ensembles in Italy. Admire the exteriors of the Archbishop’s Residence, the Seminary, the Bell Tower, and the cathedral. Finally, visit the underground Jewish Museum and discover the town’s fascinating Jewish history.

Lecce: City Highlights Guided Tour by Bike

Lecce: City Highlights Guided Tour by Bike

Explore the splendid historical center of Lecce by bike. Pick up the time which is best for you and dive into the sublime atmosphere of southern Italy. During this visit and along with our guide, you will discover the main gems of Lecce: the majestic Piazza del Duomo, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, the monumental entrance to the city, Porta Napoli, followed by the enchanting Basilica of Santa Croce, which reflects the artistic development of Baroque Lecce. The tour ends in Piazza Sant'Oronzo, where, among historic buildings and churches, we will discover the remains of the Roman amphitheater.

Lecce guided tour with underground discoveries

Lecce guided tour with underground discoveries

Through the cobbled alleyways of Lecce's historic center unfolds a journey into the heart of Salento's Baroque art. Visitors are greeted by architectural grandeur reflecting centuries of history and culture. The 2-hours guided tour, begins with a stroll through ancient streets, where buildings adorned with Baroque details stand tall, recounting tales of nobility and devotion. Expert tour guides lead the group through significant sites, unveiling secrets behind decorated facades and richly adorned churches. Visitors immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of Piazza del Duomo, admiring the magnificent facade of the Basilica of Santa Croce and the bell tower of Lecce Cathedral, a true masterpiece of Baroque architecture. Continuing the journey, the tour heads towards the captivating entrance of the Archaeological Museum, where an underground world of discoveries awaits. Here, the ancient secrets of the city emerge from archaeological excavations, offering a fascinating glimpse into the past. Visitors explore the museum's depths, admiring precious artifacts and remnants of bygone eras. The highlight of the visit is the exploration of the underground, where evidence of daily life and buried traditions lie beneath the layers of time. Through ancient corridors and mysterious chambers, participants uncover the richness of Lecce's historical heritage, a testament to a glorious and captivating past. In conclusion, the guided tour offers an unforgettable experience through the wonders of Baroque art in Lecce's historic center, enriched by the evocative discovery of the Archaeological Museum's underground. A journey through time and the beauty of a city steeped in history and charm.

Lecce: Street Food Tasting and Walking Tour

Lecce: Street Food Tasting and Walking Tour

Meet the guide at Porta San Biagio, one of the four main old gates of the city - do all four still exist? - and start an amazing discovery of this small, but enchanting town. See what makes San Matteo church unique amang the numerous churches of the city centre. Stop in Piazza Duomo and enjoy the beauty of this elegant square unique in its "closed" shape. Learn about the old papier-mâché tradition by visiting a workshop where you will see the construction phases of a papier-mâché statue At the relaxing pace of a walk with friends, the guide will lead you across the alleys of the historic center and through anecdotes and details will let you discover the wonders of this fantastic Baroque city, such as the facade of the Basilica of Santa Croce, which looks like an embroidery or the sculptures that embellish the balconies of noble residences. You will discover the history of Piazza Sant'Oronzo, listen why a column of the Via Appia, an ancient Roman road, ended up in Lecce; why the emblem in the center of the square depicts a she-wolf and what are the allegories of the great Clock of Wonders. Between one monument and another you will stop to savor the local specialities, such as rustic: puff pastry disc filled with mozzarella, tomato and béchamel; or the pettole: small balls of leavened dough, in white or pizzaiola style, a typical appetizer on Christmas Eve and you cannot skip the pasticciotto, the king of Salento pastry: a base of shortcrust pastry filled with custard. These are just some of the samples. You'll find out the rest at the moment, we don't want to spoil the surprise!

Lecce: City Highlights Guided Tour by Rickshaw

Lecce: City Highlights Guided Tour by Rickshaw

Explore the splendid historical center of Lecce, comfortably seated on the back of a rickshaw. Pick up the time which is best for you and dive into the sublime atmosphere of southern Italy. During this visit and along with our guide, you will discover the main gems of Lecce: the majestic Piazza del Duomo, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, the monumental entrance to the city, Porta Napoli, followed by the enchanting Basilica of Santa Croce, which reflects the artistic development of Baroque Lecce. The tour ends in Piazza Sant'Oronzo, where, among historic buildings and churches, we will discover the remains of the Roman amphitheater.

Lecce: Digital guide made with a Local for your tour

Lecce: Digital guide made with a Local for your tour

Discover the main attractions, most important monuments, curiosities, legends, places frequented by the locals, best restaurants, typical dishes, and anecdotes of people who have always lived in the city of Lecce with this self-guided audio tour. Start the tour at any time. Once purchased, receive a link and password to start your experience. Walk about 3 km through the streets of Lecce. Enter the monuments (entrance fees are not included) and spend as much time as you like on the various visits. Unlike standard tours where you have to run after a guide, the beauty of this experience is that you can decide whether to relax, read historical insights, or spend more time on food or views.

Lecce: Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour

Lecce: Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour

Start the tour by visiting the majestic Basilica of Santa Croce, the jewel in the crown of Lecce's Baroque architecture. Then explore the nearby Piazza Sant'Oronzo, the former market square where the ancient town hall, the Roman column and the remains of a huge Roman amphitheatre stand. Continue with a stroll along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which boasts a series of spectacular Baroque palaces and the recently renovated Church of Santa Irene. Then reach the beautiful Piazza Duomo next door, home to one of Italy's most popular buildings. Admire the Archbishop's Palace, the Seminary, the bell tower and the cathedral.

Lecce: Guided Tour & Wine Tasting by Bike

Lecce: Guided Tour & Wine Tasting by Bike

Explore the splendid historical center of Lecce by bike. Pick up the time which is best for you and dive into the sublime atmosphere of southern Italy. During this visit and along with our guide, you will discover the main gems of Lecce: the majestic Piazza del Duomo, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, the monumental entrance to the city, Porta Napoli, followed by the enchanting Basilica of Santa Croce, which reflects the artistic development of Baroque Lecce. Finally, we'll reach Piazza Sant'Oronzo, where, among historic buildings and churches, we will discover the remains of the Roman amphitheater. The tour will end at a cellarman's who will make you try 3 local wines, and deliver you all the secrets of Apulia's wine-making tradition.

Lecce: Guided Tour & Street Food Tasting by Rickshaw

Lecce: Guided Tour & Street Food Tasting by Rickshaw

Explore the splendid historical center of Lecce by rickshaw. Pick up the time which is best for you and dive into the sublime atmosphere of southern Italy. During this visit and along with our guide, you will discover the main gems of Lecce: the majestic Piazza del Duomo, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, the monumental entrance to the city, Porta Napoli, followed by the enchanting Basilica of Santa Croce, which reflects the artistic development of Baroque Lecce. The tour ends in Piazza Sant'Oronzo, where, among historic buildings and churches, we will discover the remains of the Roman amphitheater. Between history and culture, the experience of typical flavours is a must. We're going to taste culinary excellences of our territory among those available according to the season.

Lecce: City Pass

Lecce: City Pass

Duomo, pure expression of the Lecce Baroque it is named after the assumption and integrated in the splendid frame of the cathedral square, among the bell tower, the bishop’s palace and the ancient seminary’s one. the cathedral appears at the tourists’ eyes with its side façade while the main one seems nearly hidden. a façade that zimbalo makes richer to house, in a triumphal arch, the new statues of the patron saints, oronzo, giusto and fortunato. Santa Croce, jewel of lecce baroque Famous for the decorative richness of the central rose window, the basilica of santa croce, through a rich repertoire of images, recalls the triumph of christianity. the visitor is amazed by the abundance of the façade in which figures of men and beasts contrast celestial figures such as angels and saints. A unique installation that evokes unforgettable emotions, when the Basilica of Santa Croce unveils its Mysteries amidst musical notes and light. San Matteo, roman form and lecce substance The church of San Matteo is reached by four alleys, not far from porta San Biagio; it connects roman baroque forms to the traditional decorative carving of the local stone. on the external façade, the concave and convex surfaces typical of borromini art dominate, whilst indoors the rich altar structures revoke the typical lecce tradition. Santa Chiara, an authentic treasure of Lecce Baroque style The plump angels nearly come out from the stone, crowding the façade decoration and many inside altars, as a characteristic of giuseppe cino art, to whom is conferred the church rebuilding and the internal project. The internal space is airy and bright when the sun light, seeping through the big windows, reflects on the rich friezes of the baroque altars. Palazzo Vernazza This jewel of Lecce’s Renaissance architecture is finally open to the public and offers an exciting tour to discover years of history kept in the basement of this noble palace, one of the oldest in Salento. Box Up Lecce Panoramic viewpoint A unique viewpoint for admiring Lecce from its tallest building, the bell tower of the Duomo. The UP! Lift whisks visitors up to the 43-metre-high balconies that offer a breathtaking 360° panorama of the city. Interactive totems and multimedia viewers allow to know the main points of interest; our staff guarantees assistance and safety during the visit.

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What people are saying about Church of the Holy Cross, Lecce

Overall rating

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
4.7 out of 5 stars
(95 reviews)
5 out of 5 stars

Antonella is “simply the best”. Her fluent knowledge of the history, architecture and influences ( historical, political and social ) on Lecce today were utterly impressive and engaging. The food was delicious and we could not eat it all. Her caring of our well being made it effortless. Grazie Antonella. 🙏 We loved our time with you. As we say in Aotearoa you are a “ taonga” or treasure. Mia and Bridget

5 out of 5 stars

The guide (Luigi Bianco) was exceptional, very friendly and knowledgeable. He conveyed his knowledge of Lecce as well as his love for the city in a pleasant and professional manner. We really loved the city and the visit we made!!

5 out of 5 stars

Our guide was really knowledgeable and responded to spontaneous questions and inquiries! We were completely satisfied and didn't miss anything!

5 out of 5 stars

Alessia provided a lot of information and explained it clearly. We enjoyed the tours. The rickshaw ride was very interesting.

5 out of 5 stars

Antoinette was very professional et knowledgeable.