Palude del Capitano and Lecce
Piero: in the morning, let’s head to the Palude del Capitano, a very picturesque place not far from Porto Cesareo, located in the Regional Natural Park of Porto Selvaggio. It’s named so because, according to legend, a sailor, tired of life at sea, decided to build a small house along the shores of the lagoon to live immersed in a captivating environment, which remains unspoiled and unique even today.
Angela: the uniqueness of the place, besides the crystal-clear sea, is the presence of a “spannulata,” a mirror of water created by karst phenomena, basically a collapsed cave that has given rise to a brackish lagoon where the fresh waters of underground springs meet the salty waters of the sea. Here lies one of the most beautiful spots along the coast, connected to the sea, making it resemble a round natural swimming pool, a few meters in diameter.
Piero: by mid-afternoon, it’s time to set off for Lecce.
Angela: less than an hour's drive from Porto Cesareo, and we’ll be there! We’ll park near Porta Napoli and start our tour from there. There’s so much to see, and it’s easy to get lost in all this beauty. Therefore, having the fortune of a knowledgeable local guide is invaluable: thanks, Lucio!
Piero: It’s a city rich in testimonies and works of art from Roman, medieval, and Renaissance eras. But Lecce is primarily a Baroque city. The warm, golden color of Lecce stone at sunset is unforgettable, and its craftsmanship can be found throughout the historic center in monuments, churches, and even the balconies and terraces of private homes.
Angela: as we walk through the streets of the center, we encounter the Church of Santa Maria della Provvidenza and the Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli in piazzetta Addolorata. We then arrive at the sixteenth-century Palazzo Adorno and the marvelous Basilica of Santa Croce, the symbol of the city and Lecce Baroque, with its stone carvings and beautiful rose window.
Piero: let’s reach the elegant Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the heart of city life, where the famous column of the patron saint stands, and the scenic Piazza del Duomo with the lavish side façade of the Cathedral and its tall bell tower, the Bishop's Palace.
Angela: don’t miss the symbols of the Roman era, namely the theater and the amphitheater built in the 2nd century AD. The amphitheater was completely buried under rubble due to earthquakes and devastation, and only in the early 20th century, during the Fascist era, thanks to excavation work, was it brought back to light. The visible part today, placed lower than the street level, is only a third of the entire structure, probably hidden beneath the central Piazza Sant’Oronzo.
Piero: besides the Cathedral and the Basilica of Santa Croce, Lecce has around forty other churches scattered throughout. Among the most original, we cannot fail to mention the Church of San Matteo with its unique curved façade.
Angela: to end the day, we must have a sandwich with octopus or any other specialty of Salento street food! A few more steps to admire the city’s beauty in the evening colors, and then we head back. Tomorrow we set out for another busy day.
