Late Summer in Lecce
Another visit to the Florence of the South
Giuseppe and I recently returned from another amazing trip to Lecce, one of our favorite cities in Italy. The day before we left I did a fridge clean out and made a giant frittata. And I’m now convinced that it’s the superior road trip food. Especially if you’re leaving early in the morning, and even better if it’s packed with potatoes fried in lots of extra virgin olive oil.
This one had fried potatoes and bell peppers, onions, parsley, and basil. Grab the full recipe from our book, The Olive Oil Enthusiast.
Lecce is nicknamed the ‘Florence of the South’, and rightfully so. Filled with gorgeous Baroque architecture, live music in the streets, and an amazing restaurant and bar scene, it’s a place that always feels… alive.
Related: How to visit Lecce
We visited the city earlier this spring. It was slightly rainy, but generally speaking, the weather was mild. However, we prefer to visit in September. This could also be due to the fact that the hotel pool was open so we were able to spend more time poolside reading : )
Here’s a list of our favorite hotels, restaurants, and must-see sights in Lecce.
While Puglia is often associated with gorgeous beaches and summer fun, it has some incredible cities better explored during the cooler months. This especially rings true for places like Lecce and Ostuni which have a historical center with narrow streets that can feel highly congested when it’s hot.
Whenever we visit cities like Rome, Venice, or Naples we feel a need to go, go, go. Whether that means visiting museums, markets, or restaurants. And this hasn’t really changed even after years of visiting.
One of the reasons we keep going back to Lecce is because it’s a wonderful place to just sit and perch. Even though it’s a city it feels like a place where you can sit back and relax. There isn’t a ton of pressure to do anything.. except maybe going for an aperitivo.
And with an incredible cafe and restaurant culture that’s an easy fix.
We ended up going back to some of our favorite restaurants, including Osteria 63. I got the paccheri with cream of potatoes and octopus, which was to die for!! We also enjoyed orecchiette made with Primitivo wine as well as paccheri with baccala. Paired with a local Susumaniello Rose it was the best meal of the trip!
Other great eats included Bar Alvino for rustici leccesi and Mamma Elvira Enoteca for snacks and wine.
If you need help planning your next trip to southern Italy don’t hesitate to reach out via email at hello@exauoliveoil.com.
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Coming up next for paid subscribers: A Visit to Grottaglie
Related Reads:
Where to Eat, Drink, & Shop in Lecce
Have a great weekend!
-Skyler & Giuseppe
Great idea about the frittata. We have a second home in Marche, and always wind up trying to give away the last eggs, milk, potatoes, and vegetables the day before we have to leave. Next time, we'll make a frittata and eat in the car on the way to Rome. Brilliant!