June 3: Lecce basilicas

Lecce is lovely - a white-washed stone city. It's a much slower pace here. People walking their dogs, more relaxed, cool vibe. The centro storico (old town) is easy to wander. The city seems to be laid out in a concentric hexagonal polygon shape - so every. single. time. you think you know where you are, you're at least 90 to 270 degrees the opposite. We wandered a lot and checked out each porto (entry). At every stretch, there's a piazza or basilica and people hanging out, wandering. Many walking their dogs. More well-cared for dogs here than I've seen anywhere. 

One different thing that we're not sure we like so much: They charge an entry fee to visit the 4 main basilicas here. But they are stunning.  Perhaps it's cash flow to help restoration. 

We really like the vibe of Lecce. And loved the Airbnb we stayed in too - right above the Roman Amphitheater.

View from the Duomo tower

The Duomo

Duomo crypt

Puppies!

Doric column

Corinthian column

Roman theater

Right outside the Roman theater

Arancino snacks (ham, mozzarella, and rice - fried into a ball). 

Lunch spritzes with bruschetta and orecchiette (ear-shaped) pasta of the region.

Evening street food paninis on our passeggiata :)