View source for Lecce

{{About|the city in Italy|the football club|U.S. Lecce|people with the surname|Lecce (surname)}}
{{Distinguish|Leece|Lecco}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox Italian comune
| name                = Lecce
| official_name       = Comune di Lecce
| native_name         = ''Lècce'' ([[Salentino dialect]])<br/>
{{lang|el-latn|Luppìu}} ([[Griko]]) <ref name="L'Italia dialettale, 1976 250">{{cite book | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TwtdAAAAMAAJ&q=ellenofona+Melpignano+Ver-+nole%2C+Lecce |author=L'Italia dialettale |title=L'Italia dialettale, Volume 39 |publisher=Arti Grafiche Pacini Mariotti |year=1976 |page=250 |quote=Dialetto romanzi, in centric he circondano, senza allontanarsene troppo, l’area ellenofona, cioè Melpignano (dove il dialetto griko non è ancor del tutto morto), Vernole, Lecce, S. Cesario di Lecce, Squinzano, San Pietro vernotico, Cellino S. Marco, Manduria, Francavilla Fontana, Maruggio: può essere perciò legittimo pensare ad un'origine grika del verbo in questione, con estensione successiva al dialetti romani. Il neogreco presenta una serie di voci che si prestano semanticamente e foneticamente }}</ref> 
| image_skyline       = {{Photo montage|photo1a=Lecce - Santa Croce - 16.jpg|photo2a=Lecce - Porta Rudiae - 1.jpg|photo2b=Lecce Amphitheater-3276.jpg|photo3a=Duomo (Lecce) 03.jpg|photo3b=Lecce - Duomo - 01.jpg}}
| imagesize           =
| image_alt           =
| image_flag          = Flag of Lecce.svg
| image_caption       = Clockwise from top: Church of Santa Croce; Roman Amphitheatre; Lecce Cathedral ("''Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta''"); the cathedral's bell tower; and Porta Rudiae
| image_shield        = Lecce-Stemma.svg
| shield_alt          =
| image_map           =
| map_alt             =
| map_caption         =
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_alt     =
| coordinates         = {{coord|40|21|N|18|10|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| region              = [[Apulia]]
| province            = [[Province of Lecce|Lecce]] (LE)
| frazioni            =
| established_title   = Founded
| established_date    = 200s BC<ref>The date given is for the [[Roman Republic]] named city Lupiae; dates for previous inhabitants such as the [[Messapians]] and [[Iapyges]] are lost to history.</ref>
| mayor_party         =
| mayor               = [[Adriana Poli Bortone]]
| area_footnotes      =
| area_total_km2      = 238
| population_footnotes =
| population_total     = 94,783
| population_as_of     = 01-1-2023
| pop_density_footnotes =
| population_demonym  = Leccese
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m         = 49
| twin1               =
| twin1_country       =
|istat=| saint               = [[Orontius of Lecce|Orontius]]
| day                 =
| postal_code         = 73100
| area_code           = 0832
| website             = {{URL|https://www.comune.lecce.it/}}
| footnotes           =
}}
<!--LEAVE IMAGES HERE TO AVOID BLANK LINES-->
[[File:Lecce - Night - 01.jpg|thumb|''Piazza del Duomo'' at night]]
[[File:Ancient Roman theatre (Lecce) 03.jpg|thumb|The Roman theater]]
[[File:Lecce - Piazza Sant'Oronzo - 5.jpg|thumb|Roman amphitheater, palazzo Sedile and column of St Oronzo]]
'''Lecce''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɛ|tʃ|eɪ}};<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Lecce|access-date=30 June 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|it|ˈlettʃe|lang|It-Lecce.ogg}}){{#tag:ref|{{langx|scn|label=[[Salentino]]|Lècce}}; {{langx|el-Latn|label=[[Griko]]|Luppìu}}; {{langx|la|Lupiae}}; {{langx|grc|Λουπίαι|translit=Loupíai}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Rohlfs |first=Gerhard |title=Toponomastica greca nel Salento |url=http://emeroteca.provincia.brindisi.it/Ricerche%20e%20Studi/1970/Articoli/Toponomastica%20Greca%20nel%20Salento.pdf |url-status=dead |quote=Ancient Greek name of Lecce according to [[Strabo]]. |date=1964 |page=13 |access-date=22 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801041216/http://emeroteca.provincia.brindisi.it/Ricerche%20e%20Studi/1970/Articoli/Toponomastica%20Greca%20nel%20Salento.pdf |archive-date=1 August 2017 |language=it}}</ref>|group=Lang}} is a city in [[southern Italy]] and [[Capital (political)|capital]] of the [[province of Lecce]]. It is on the [[Salento|Salentine Peninsula]], at the heel of the [[Italian Peninsula]], and is over two thousand years old.

Because of its rich [[Baroque architecture]], Lecce is nicknamed "The [[Florence]] of the South".<ref>{{cite web |title=Lecce: Italy |url=http://www.lifeinitaly.com/tourism/puglia/lecce |publisher=Lifeinitaly.com |date=10 November 2009 |access-date=26 March 2013}}</ref> "Lecce stone"—a particular kind of [[limestone]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=19055530 |title=Investigation on porosity change of Lecce stone |access-date=9 October 2008 |archive-date=23 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523230056/http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=19055530 |url-status=dead }}</ref>—is one of the city's main exports, because it is very soft and workable, and thus suitable for sculptures. Lecce is also an important [[agricultural]] centre, chiefly for its [[olive oil]] and [[wine]] production, as well as an industrial centre specializing in [[ceramic]]s.

Lecce is home to the [[University of Salento]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ustat.miur.it/dati/didattica/italia/atenei-statali/salento | title=Università del Salento | website= Ministero dell'Istruzione dell'Università e della Ricerca | lang=it}}</ref>

== History ==
According to legend, a city called ''Sybar'' existed at the time of the [[Trojan War]], founded by the [[Messapii]]. It was conquered by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] in the 3rd century BC, receiving the new name of ''Lupiae''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0006:entry=lupiae |title=LUPIAE (Lecce) Apulia, Italy |last=Stillwell |first=Richard |display-authors=etal |institution=The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites}}</ref>

Under the emperor [[Hadrian]] (2nd century AD) the city was moved {{convert|3|km|0|abbr=off}} to the northeast, taking the name of Licea or Litium. Lecce had a theater and an amphitheater and was connected to the Hadrian Port (the current San Cataldo). [[Orontius of Lecce]], locally called Sant'Oronzo, is considered to have served as the city's first Christian bishop and is Lecce's patron saint.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lecce.italiani.it/santoronzo-la-storia-del-patrono-di-lecce/ |title= Sant’Oronzo, la storia del patrono di Lecce |author=Rita Parisi |language=IT |date=14 February 2022}}</ref>

After the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]], Lecce was sacked by the [[Ostrogoth]] king [[Totila]] in the [[Gothic Wars (6th century)|Gothic Wars]]. It was restored to Roman rule in 549, and remained part of the [[Eastern Roman Empire|Eastern Empire]] for five centuries, with brief conquests by [[Saracen]]s and [[Lombards]].

After the [[Italo-Normans|Norman]] conquest in the 11th century, Lecce regained commercial and political importance (count [[Tancred of Lecce]] was the last Norman King of Sicily), flourishing in the subsequent [[Hohenstaufen]] and [[Capetian House of Anjou|Angevine]] rule. The [[County of Lecce]] was one of the largest and most important fiefs in the [[Kingdom of Sicily]] from 1053 to 1463, when it was annexed directly to the crown. From the 15th century, Lecce was one of the most important cities of southern Italy, and, starting in 1630, it was enriched with precious Baroque monuments. To avert invasion by the Ottomans, a new line of walls and a castle were built by [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] (who was also [[Holy Roman Emperor]]), in the first part of the 16th century.

In 1656, a [[Plague (disease)|plague]] broke out in the city, killing a thousand inhabitants.

In 1943, [[fighter aircraft]] based in Lecce helped support isolated Italian [[garrisons]] in the [[Aegean Sea]] during [[World War II|World War 2]]. Because they were delayed by the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]], they couldn't prevent a defeat. In 1944 and 1945, [[B-24 long-range bombers]] of the [[98th Heavy Bomber Group]] attached to the [[15th U.S. Army Air Force]] were based in Lecce, from where the crews flew missions over Italy, the Balkans, Austria, Germany and France.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.corrieresalentino.it/2018/03/le-incursioni-aeree-alleate-puglia-nellestate-1943/ |title=Le incursioni aeree alleate in Puglia nell’estate 1943 |language=IT |website = Il Corriere Salentino |date=25 March 2018}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations|1861|15594|1871|23301|1881|25441|1901|32029|1911|34958|1921|39556|1931|44368|1936|49261|1951|63831|1961|75297|1971|83050|1981|91289|1991|100884|2001|83303|2011|89916|2021|94783|footnote=Source: [[National Institute of Statistics (Italy)|ISTAT]]|cols=2|align=none}}

== Main sights ==

=== Churches and religious buildings ===
* [[Basilica di Santa Croce (Lecce)|Church of the Holy Cross]]: construction of the ''Chiesa di Santa Croce'') was begun in 1353, but work halted until 1549, and it was completed only by 1695. The church has a richly decorated façade with animals, grotesque figures and vegetables, and a large rose window. Next to the church is the Government Palace, a former convent.
* [[Lecce Cathedral]]: the church was originally built in 1144, rebuilt in 1230, then totally restored in the 1659–70 by [[Giuseppe Zimbalo]], who also built the five storey {{convert|70|m|ft|adj=on}} high bell tower, with an octagonal [[loggia]].
* San Niccolò and Cataldo: the church is an example of Italo-Norman architecture. It was founded by [[Tancred of Sicily]] in 1180. In 1716 the façade was rebuilt, with the addition of numerous statues, but maintaining the original [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] portal. The walls were frescoed during the 15th-17th centuries.
* Celestine Convent: built (1549–1695) in [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]]-style by [[Giuseppe Zimbalo]]. The courtyard was designed by Gabriele Riccardi.
* Santa Irene: this church was commissioned in 1591 by the [[Theatines]] and dedicated to [[Irene of Thessalonica|Saint Irene]]. The architect was [[Francesco Grimaldi (architect)|Francesco Grimaldi]]). It has a large façade showing different styles in the upper and lower parts. Above the portal stands a statue of ''Ste Irene'' (1717) by Mauro Manieri. The interior is on the Latin cross plan and is rather sober. The main altarpiece is a copy of the ''St [[Michael the Archangel]]'' by [[Guido Reni]]. The high altar has a ''Transport of the Holy Ark'' by Oronzo Tiso. In the right transept is one of the largest altars in Lecce, dedicated to [[Saint Cajetan]] (1651). Nearby is the [[Rococo]] altar of Saint [[Andrew Avellino]]. Also from the mid-17th century is the ''Altar of St Orontius'' by [[Francesco Antonio Zimbalo]], followed by the altar of Saint Irene with a canvas by Giuseppe Verrio (1639), nine busts of saints housing relics and a large statue of the saint. The altar of [[Saint Stephen]] has the ''Stoning of St. Stephen'' by Verrio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lecce.italiani.it/la-chiesa-di-santirene-dei-teatini-a-lecce/|title=La chiesa di Sant’Irene dei Teatini a Lecce|author=Luigi Bove|date=15 February 2019|language=IT}}</ref>
* San Matteo: this church was built in 1667. It has a typical central Italy Baroque style. It has two columns on the façade, only one of which is decorated, though only partially. According to a local legend, the jealous devil killed the sculptor before he could finish the work.
* Santa Maria degli Angeli
* Santa Chiara: this church was built in 1429–1438, rebuilt in 1687.
* San Francesco della Scarpa: known as the "church without façade" as the latter has been demolished in the 19th century restorations. The most ancient section dates likely to the 13th-14th centuries; the interior is on the Greek Cross plan. Notable are several Baroque altars and a large statue of [[Saint Joseph]].

=== Other buildings ===
* Column of statue of St Oronzo: (Lecce's patron) was given to Lecce by the city of [[Brindisi]], because Saint Oronzo was reputed to have cured the plague in Brindisi. The column was one of a pair that marked the end of the [[Appian Way]], the main road between [[Rome]] and southern Italy.
* Torre del Parco ("Park Tower"): is one of the medieval symbols of Lecce. It was erected in 1419 by the then-18 year old [[Giovanni Antonio Del Balzo Orsini]], prince of Lecce. The tower, standing at more than {{convert|23|m|ft}}, is surrounded by a ditch in which bears (the heraldic symbol of the Orsini del Balzo) were reared. The whole complex was the seat of Orsini's tribunal and of a mint, and after Giovanni Antonio's death, it became a residence for the Spanish viceroys.
* Palazzo Sedile: was built in 1592 and was used by the local council until 1852.
* [[Castle of Charles V]]: built in 1539–49 by Gian Giacomo dell'Acaja. It has a trapezoidal plan with angular bastions. It is attached to the Politeama Greco Opera House, inaugurated on 15 November 1884.
* Triumphal Arch (''Arco di Trionfo'', commonly called ''Porta Napoli'', "Neapolitan Gate"), which is one of the three gates to enter Lecce's historical city centre, erected in 1548 in honor of Charles V. It replaced an older gate, ''Porta S. Giusto'', which, according to tradition, lay over the tomb of the namesake saint. Also built over pre-existing medieval gates are the current ''Porta San Biagio'' ("St. Blaise Gate") and the ''Porta Rudiae'' which are the other two gates to Lecce's Historical city centre. Both are in Baroque style, the latter having the statue of St. Oronzo on the top and mythological figures on the sides.
* Palazzo dei Celestini: now seat of the Province of Lecce. It was built in 1659–95 and designed by [[Giuseppe Zimbalo]].
* The city's obelisk: erected in 1822 in honour of [[Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies]].

<gallery>
File:Piazza Sant'Oronzo (Lecce).jpg|''Piazza Sant'Oronzo''
File:Piazza Duomo (Lecce) 01.jpg|''Piazza del Duomo''
File:Lecce - Santa Croce - 17.jpg|Lower part of the facade of ''[[Basilica di Santa Croce (Lecce)|Basilica di Santa Croce]]''
File:Lecce san giovanni battista.jpg|Church of ''San Giovanni Battista''
File:Palazzo dei Celestini (Lecce) 01.jpg|''Palazzo dei Celestini''
File:Arco di Prato (Lecce).jpg|''Arco di Prato''
File:Porta Napoli, Lecce.jpg|''Porta Napoli''
File:Lecce - Porta Rudiae - 2.jpg|Pediment of ''Porta Rudiae''
Lecce - Palazzo Marrese - 02.jpg|Female caryatids on the facade of ''palazzo Marrese''
Lecce - Ferdinando I di Borbone Obelisk.jpg|''Ferdinando I di Borbone Obelisk''
</gallery>

=== Gardens and parks ===
* [[Orto Botanico di Lecce]], a [[botanical garden]].

=== Archaeology ===
* The Roman 2nd century [[amphitheatre]], situated near Sant'Oronzo Square, was able to seat more than 25,000 people. It is now half-buried because other monuments were built above it over the centuries. The theatre is currently used for various religious and arts events.
* The archaeological museum ''Sigismondo Castromediano''.
* The archaeological museum ''Faggiano''.
* The archaeological park of [[Rudiae]], three kilometres south-west of the city but within its limits. The place was identified as the former home of the poet [[Ennius]] by [[Antonio de Ferraris]], a [[Renaissance Humanist]] who was from the region.<ref>Pietro Napoli Signorelli, Vicende della coltura nelle due Sicilie, Naples 1784, [https://books.google.com/books?id=2kKKhwIqvO8C&dq=%22Antonio+de+Ferraris+%22+Ennius&pg=PA246 Vol.1, p.246ff]</ref> This was once the more important city until Roman times and has an amphitheatre of its own, a [[necropolis]] and remains of substantial walls. The Porta Rudiae, built on the road leading from this site, is named after it.

== Geography ==

=== Climate ===
Lecce experiences a [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Csa'').

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Lecce (1981–2010)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 21.2
|Feb record high C = 22.4
|Mar record high C = 28.6
|Apr record high C = 30.4
|May record high C = 35.6
|Jun record high C = 44.0
|Jul record high C = 44.4
|Aug record high C = 42.6
|Sep record high C = 40.6
|Oct record high C = 34.2
|Nov record high C = 26.8
|Dec record high C = 21.4

|Jan high C = 13.1
|Feb high C = 13.4
|Mar high C = 15.9
|Apr high C = 19.3
|May high C = 24.9
|Jun high C = 29.5
|Jul high C = 32.3
|Aug high C = 32.2
|Sep high C = 27.7
|Oct high C = 22.8
|Nov high C = 17.8
|Dec high C = 14.1
| year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 8.4
|Feb mean C = 8.5
|Mar mean C = 10.6
|Apr mean C = 13.7
|May mean C = 18.5
|Jun mean C = 22.7
|Jul mean C = 25.5
|Aug mean C = 25.6
|Sep mean C = 21.8
|Oct mean C = 17.7
|Nov mean C = 13.1
|Dec mean C = 9.7
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 3.8
|Feb low C = 3.6
|Mar low C = 5.3
|Apr low C = 8.0
|May low C = 12.0
|Jun low C = 16.0
|Jul low C = 18.7
|Aug low C = 19.0
|Sep low C = 15.9
|Oct low C = 12.6
|Nov low C = 8.3
|Dec low C = 5.2
| year low C = 

|Jan record low C = -12.0
|Feb record low C = -5.6
|Mar record low C = -4.6
|Apr record low C = -1.8
|May record low C = 3.2
|Jun record low C = 7.4
|Jul record low C = 10.4
|Aug record low C = 10.8
|Sep record low C = 6.0
|Oct record low C = 1.1
|Nov record low C = -2.8
|Dec record low C = -5.4

|Jan precipitation mm = 60.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 61.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 62.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 45.5
|May precipitation mm = 27.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 20.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 16.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 36.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 54.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 91.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 95.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 68.9
|precipitation colour = green

| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| precip days colour      = 
| Jan precipitation days  =7.9
| Feb precipitation days  =6.9
| Mar precipitation days  =6.9
| Apr precipitation days  =6.2
| May precipitation days  =4.4
| Jun precipitation days  =3.0
| Jul precipitation days  =1.9
| Aug precipitation days  =2.2
| Sep precipitation days  =4.8
| Oct precipitation days  =6.3
| Nov precipitation days  =7.8
| Dec precipitation days  =7.8
| year precipitation days =
| Jan humidity    =78.3
| Feb humidity    =75.6
| Mar humidity    =73.9
| Apr humidity    =72.7
| May humidity    =69.2
| Jun humidity    =66.3
| Jul humidity    =65.2
| Aug humidity    =66.7
| Sep humidity    =72.4
| Oct humidity    =77.1
| Nov humidity    =80.0
| Dec humidity    =79.5
| year humidity   =
| Jan dew point C =5.8
| Feb dew point C =5.7
| Mar dew point C =7.1
| Apr dew point C =9.7
| May dew point C =12.5
| Jun dew point C =15.5
| Jul dew point C =17.4
| Aug dew point C =18.8
| Sep dew point C =17.1
| Oct dew point C =14.6
| Nov dew point C =11.2
| Dec dew point C =7.2
|source 1 = Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale<ref name = ISPRA>{{cite web
| url = https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/files/pubblicazioni/SA_55_14_Valori_climatici_normali.pdf
| title = Valori climatici normali di temperatura e precipitazione in Italia
| publisher=Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale
| access-date = 26 November 2024}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[NCEI]](Precipitation days-Humidity-Dew Point 1991–2020),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Italy/CSV/Lecce_16332.csv |title=WMO Climate Normals for 1991-2020: Lecce-16332 |website=ncei.noaa.gov |access-date=27 February 2024|publisher=[[NOAA|National Oceanic and Atmosoheric Administration]] |no-pp=y |type=Excel |format=CSV |postscript=.}}</ref>[[World Meteorological Organization]] (precipitation)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=2073|title=World Weather Information Service|website=World Weather Information Service}}</ref>altervista (extremes)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://climaintoscana.altervista.org/italia/stazioni-wmo/lecce-galatina/|title = Lecce Galatina}}</ref>
}}

== Sport ==
[[File:Via del mare-curva nord.jpg|thumb|200px|[[US Lecce]] crowd at the [[Stadio Via del Mare]]]] 
Lecce is home to [[Serie A]] football club [[U.S. Lecce]], founded in 1908. Since 1966, they have played at the 33,786-seater [[Stadio Via del Mare]].

== Transportation ==
[[File:Lecce - Stazione - FSE Ad44.jpg|thumb|200px|A ''[[Ferrovie del Sud Est]]'' train at [[Lecce railway station]].]]
Lecce is served by [[Lecce railway station]]. The local public transport includes [[Trolleybuses in Lecce|trolleybus service]], introduced in 2012.<ref name=trolleymotion>{{cite web|url=https://old.trolleymotion.eu/index.php?id=38&L=3&n_ID=1437 |title=Lecce (IT) - Finally opened! |last=Lehmann |first=Jürgen |date=16 January 2012|publisher=TrolleyMotion |accessdate=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123015303/https://old.trolleymotion.eu/index.php?id=38&L=3&n_ID=1437 |archive-date=23 January 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="tm302">''Trolleybus Magazine'' No. 302 (March–April 2012), p. 43. National Trolleybus Association (UK). {{ISSN|0266-7452}}.</ref>

== People ==
[[File:San Filippo Smaldone.jpg|thumb|upright|Statue of Lecce-born saint [[Filippo Smaldone]] in the city's cathedral]]

* [[Antonio Amantea]] (1894–1983), World War I fighter ace
* [[Scipione Ammirato]] (1531–1601), historian and philosopher
* [[Giuseppe Ayroldi]] (1895 – 1962), represented Lecce in the Constituent Assembly
* [[Abraham de Balmes]] (c. 1450–1523), [[Jewish]] [[physician]] and [[translator]]
* [[Carmelo Bene]] (1937–2002), actor, film director and screenwriter
* {{ill|Vittorio Bodini|it}} (1914–1970), poet and translator
* [[Massimo Bray]] (born 1959), intellectual, academic publisher and politician, former director of the ''Italian Encyclopaedia of Science, Letters, and Arts'' ([[Enciclopedia Treccani]]), who served in the government of Italy as Minister of Culture 
* [[Carlo Capasa]] (born 1958), president of [[Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana]] 
* [[Ennio Capasa]] (born 1960), fashion designer, creator of the Italian fashion house [[CoSTUME NATIONAL]]
* [[Franco Causio]] (born 1949), retired footballer, [[1982 FIFA World Cup]] winner
* [[Antonio Conte]] (born 1969), retired footballer, current manager of [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]], and former manager of [[S.S.C. Bari|Bari]], [[Siena FC SSD|Siena]], [[Atalanta B.C.|Atalanta]], [[Juventus F.C.|Juventus]], [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] and the [[Italy national football team|Italian football team]]
* [[Francesco Danieli]] (born 1981), historian and iconologist
* [[Cosimo De Giorgi]] (1842–1922), scientist
* [[Ennio De Giorgi]] (1928–1996), mathematician
* [[Cloe Elmo]] (1910–1962), opera singer
* [[Quintus Ennius]] (c. 239–169 BC), Roman writer and poet
* [[Vito Fazzi]] (1851–1918), physician and hospital founder
* [[Barbara Lezzi]] (born 1972), politician, who served in the government of Italy as Minister for the South
* [[Marco Materazzi]] (born 1973), retired footballer, [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] winner
* [[Gabriele Poso]] (born 1978), independent artist, musician and composer
* {{ill|Michelangelo Schipa|it}} (1854–1939), writer, historian and scholar
* [[Tito Schipa]] (1888–1965), tenor
* [[Filippo Smaldone]] (1848–1923), Catholic priest and saint
* [[Antonio Verrio]] (c. 1636–1707), painter in England

== Twin towns – sister cities ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy}}
Lecce is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>Lecce: [http://www.comune.lecce.it/comune/gemellaggi "Gemellaggi"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085805/http://www.comune.lecce.it/comune/gemellaggi |date=19 August 2014}}, 3 November 2011, retrieved 16 August 2014</ref>
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Murcia]], Spain, since 2004
*{{flagicon|MKD}} [[Skopje]], North Macedonia, since 2005
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Ostrów Wielkopolski]], Poland, since 2006
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Valladolid]], Spain, since 2009
*{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Amasya]], [[Turkey]]

== See also ==
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lecce]]
* [[Punta San Cataldo di Lecce Lighthouse]]
* [[Brindisi Airport]]
* [[Port of Brindisi]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=Lang}}

== References ==
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== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Lecce}}
{{Commons category|Lecce}}
* {{official website|https://www.comune.lecce.it/}} {{in lang|it}}

{{Province of Lecce}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lecce| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Apulia]]
[[Category:Localities of Salento]]
[[Category:200s BC establishments]]