Fall in love with Lecce

At the close of day in this southern Italian city, the sinking sun imbues the old stone buildings with a warm golden glow.

For anyone who has ever chased the light — director, painter, writer, photographer — Lecce is where you’ll always find it.

Nestled far down on the heel of Italy’s boot, this exquisite city in Puglia offers the kind of astounding art and architecture and amazing food and wine you can find in larger, more touristy Italian cities, at a lower cost and without the large crowds.

My husband and I first visited in 2024 and have returned every year since. Wanting to escape some of our long Canadian winter, we picked the region of Puglia because we love Italy and wanted to go someplace we had never been.