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Published: June 13th 2017
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It is our second day in Lecce and after relaxing yesterday we are ready for our personalized walking tour of the old city. It is Friday so everywhere is bound to be busy. First things first, the washing. We check out the on-line user manual for this model of washing machine and find a 30 minute cycle. Great. Two separate washes before breakfast. With the hot wind blowing should be dry in no time.
We head out a little later than we had hoped and join the very busy commuter flow around the historic town looking for a car park. What a frustrating fruitless exercise. The large car park we wanted had been converted into a market. A great way to encourage keen Kiwi tourists with pockets full of euros to spend! Close off the car parks and force them to go away. Not to be put off we remembered a good park we used two days ago. We give it a try expecting all parks to be taken. But no, there in the shade of an avenue of trees is a space. Armed with our euros we start to feed the pay and display meter. After inserting a two
Lecce
Roman ampitheatre. euro coin the meter shows we can stay for over five hours. This is more than we could have asked for.
The tour begins. After sorting out our location in relation to other sites we want to see, we head off for the city centre. In the Piazza Sant’Oronzo we find an information office (a good map is always handy), and a Roman ampitheatre built by Emperor Hadrian. What we see looks more like a theatre, but some research shows a model in a museum of what it may have looked like. There is also a Roman theatre nearby behind some private buildings, maybe a cost is involved. Our tour continues on to the Duomo. Around the Duomo are fine examples of baroque architecture. The heat radiating off the piazza paving and the buildings is quite something. Many of the buildings have undergone restoration so the gleaming creamy colour is quite bright. Lunch in a cool cafe brings relief.
We stop at a shop where the assistants are demonstrating their skill of personalising various clothing items such as hats, aprons, and baby wear. We show our appreciation by making a small purchase. All around us tour groups are
Lecce
Roman ampitheatre juggling for the best place to take a selfie, or snaps of fellow travellers, in front of wonderful baroque building facades. Does one dare to photo bomb some of these pics?
The public gardens are well cared for with clean paving, neatly trimmed grass and plenty of shade trees. No flower beds. Maybe too hot and dry to keep them up to standard. Our last visit is to the church, Basilica di Santa Croce. Where the Duomo was quite plain this church has fine stone work around the top of plain columns and in the different chapels. Unfortunately the exterior west end of the church is screened off for restoration work. The screen is a life size photo of the truly beautiful facade that will eventually be revealed.
And so our walking tour comes to an end. A little longer than we planned but worth every footstep. On arrival back at the car we find it cool under the shade of the trees. Back at the apartment we rest and reflect. So far a restful, relaxing stay in Lecce. It has been worthwhile taking the time to travel south and really enjoy the area.
Tomorrow we say
Lecce
The Duomo goodbye to the South and start the long drive north. It will take three days to reach the next destination on our wish list. But maybe we are in for a surprise or two before we get there.
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