Lecce Car Rental

Small but beautiful, Lecce is known as the Florence of the South for its incredible Baroque architecture and artwork. The city center is extremely well preserved. Highlights include the Basilica di Santa Croce, which was built in the 16th and 17th centuries. The frieze on the exterior is incredibly detailed. If that's not enough Baroque artwork for you, you'll find more at the nearby church of Santa Chiara, which contains seven beautiful altars.

However, Lecce's history stretches back far longer than the Baroque period. The city's Roman Theater was unearthed by accident in 1929 and was quickly recognized as one of the region's most important archaeological sites. Many historians believe it was commissioned by Augustus before he became emperor. You can see it at Piazza Sant'Oronzo, the city's central square.

While in Lecce, be sure to try some of the local specialties. The cuisine of Puglia celebrates fresh vegetables and fruit, fish and pasta. You'll also find a number of delicious pastries available at bakeries around the city. Locals like to enjoy a sweet pasticciotto, a pastry filled with crème pâtissière, for breakfast. Another pastry, the savory rustico leccese, makes a great snack while you're exploring. Inside the layers of flaky dough, you'll find a rich béchamel sauce enriched with mozzarella. Coffee lovers should also try the caffè leccessee, the local version of an iced coffee, served with a shot of sweetened almond syrup.

Take advantage of car rental in Lecce to explore more of Puglia. This region is particularly well-known for its spectacular beaches, which you'll find in small seaside towns like Polignano A Mare and Otranto. If visiting Otranto, you may also want to stop by the Ossuary Chapel at the cathedral, which contains a spooky, unusual sight: hundreds of skulls. These are the remains of the martyrs who lived here and refused to abandon Christianity during the 15th-century Turkish invasion.

One of the best day trips you can enjoy with a car or van rental in Lecce is Gallipoli. This seaside town stands on the shores of the Ionian Sea and is a popular destination for Italians in summer. The old town has a number of impressive buildings, while the beaches are some of the best in the country. If you're visiting in summer, Gallipoli has a reputation for being a hotspot for wild, all-night parties.

Like most Italian cities, Lecce has a limited traffic zone in its center. Known as a ZTL, these zones are common across the country. Vehicles can only enter if they have a permit. Cameras control the entrances to the ZTL, and drivers who enter will be fined.

The good news for visitors to Lecce is that the ZTL here is a lot less restrictive than in most other cities. During the week, it is only in place at night, with access limited from 21:00 to 06:00. The ZTL is in effect all day on Sundays and public holidays. You can check the boundaries of the ZTL on a map and watch out for the signs that mark it. These distinctive signs, with a red ring surrounding a white circle, can be seen in cities all over Italy. If you plan to travel around the country, be sure to familiarize yourself with ZTL signs, or you run the risk of a fine!

There is free parking available on Via Antonio Gramsci or Via Vincenzo Balsamo, which are both about 15 minutes' walk from the city center. There is also a pay and display parking lot beside the train station. In other parts of Lecce, you will find some on-street parking. Spaces marked with blue lines are pay and display, while spaces marked in white are free. Avoid spaces that are marked with yellow lines, as they are reserved for residents.

The streets in Lecce and elsewhere in Puglia are usually very narrow. If you are using on-street parking, tuck your wing mirrors when you get out of your vehicle. This will keep them safe from being dinged by passing cars.

With its beautiful countryside, Puglia is ideal road trip territory. You can stick to the highways to get to your destination faster or try the country roads for better views and the chance of adventure. If driving on the backroads, be aware that they are often very narrow. Small vehicles may be more comfortable, and overtaking can be difficult. As you drive, you can expect to see many of the typical "ape" vehicles, the light three-wheelers that are still the vehicle of choice for Italian farmers.

When driving between cities in Italy, you are legally obliged to keep your headlights on, even during daylight hours. You can turn them off when you enter a city, but many drivers choose not to.