Lecce - Bari summer route

About the destination: Lecce is a historic city in the Apulia region of Italy, and the capital of the province of Lecce. Because of the rich Baroque architectural monuments found in the city, Lecce is commonly nicknamed "The Florence of the South". Lecce has a lovely historic centre (centro storico), and travellers can easily spend many hours exploring picturesque little lanes and finding the more far-flung Baroque churches. The town's great artistic treasure is its architecture; in terms of other arts, such as painting, Lecce cannot really compare with northerly towns like Florence and Rome. The town has two main focal points: Piazza Sant'Oronzo and Piazza del Duomo. Piazza Sant'Oronzo is the big civic heart of the town, a large square with a slightly different atmosphere, the ancient and the modern sitting uncomfortably together. Piazza del Duomo is an unusual interpretation of a familiar Italian cathedral square. In Lecce the cathedral sits in one corner of a theatrical enclosed square; a still space in the heart of town.

About the destination: Brindisi is a city in the South of Italy, right down in the "heel of the boot" in the region of Apulia, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Historically, the city has played a significant role in trade and culture, due to its strategic position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city remains a major port for trade with Greece and the Middle East. The city of Brindisi lies between two deep bays linked to the open sea by a narrow and deep channel, overlooked by the Castello Rosso (Red Castle), named for the particular colour of the stone used to build it. The Swabian Castle, rather, overlooks the western channel of the port and today is a venue for major cultural events. Among the sights not to be missed, the Church of San Giovanni al Sepolcro, with a beautiful and finely-decorated marble portal, and the Colonna Romana (Roman Column), once flanked by a "twin" that today is part of the structure of the famous Colonna di Sant’Oronzo in Lecce. Beautiful sandy beaches are scattered along the coast, lapped by the clear water of the Adriatic Sea.

About the destination: Despite the fact that Bari is quite a large modern city, it has managed to maintain the unique atmosphere of small towns. In this city, ancient buildings and strict gothic castles sit side by side with new trading centres and restaurants, making Bari even more attractive and elegant. Take a stroll along the narrow streets of the city centre to reach the Cathedral of Bari. Built in the 12th century, its crypt is a masterpiece of Baroque art. In these winding streets, another fine example of Baroque architecture stands, the beautiful church of San Nicola, built a thousand years ago. Castello Normanno Svevo, which was built in 1132, is one of the most notable sights of the city. The Museum of Archaeology is another place of interest in Bari as excavations in the old part of the city haven’t stopped even now, so the museum constantly receives new exhibits. If daytime is traditionally used for leisurely walks in shady valleys, night turns Bari into one lively discotheque. Trendy bars, pubs, and clubs are ready to entertain their visitors until dawn.