The Province of Lecce occupies the very tip of the 'heel' of Italy and the Salento Peninsula, surrounded by the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian sea to the south/west.
The city of Lecce is often referred to as the 'Florence of the South' (this is something of a misnomer), since it is dominated by baroque architecture, and there is a well preserved Roman amphitheatre in the centre. Many other nearby towns follow a similar architectural style, such as Nardo, Galatone and Galatina.
Gallipoli, the 'Gem of Salento', on the Ionian coast, Otranto on the Adriatic coast, and Maglie, right in the centre of the peninsula, are the three main towns of note. At the very southern most tip is Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet, which has been a tourist destination for the well-to-do Pugliesi since 1900. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, this province offers exceptional opportunities for scuba diving, water sports and explorations into caves hewn into the cliff faces by the wind and sea over many millennia.
Lecce Province has a population of c.800k, and covers a land area of 2 759 km2.
