Lecce: Best Culinary Experiences by The Times
Only those who have stayed at our villas in Puglia can tell you about the joys of having succulent and freshly harvested Mediterranean produce.
The region is famous throughout Italy for its food and in fact The Times awards Lecce for its ‘cucina povera’ – Translated literally as ‘poor kitchen’, historic hardship in the Puglia region gave rise to dishes dominantly made using local and seasonal ingredients. Visitors rave about the vegetable-rich food in Italy’s ‘heel’ and Lecce is its most beautiful city, with an embarrassment of riches both when it comes to baroque architecture and atmospheric places to eat.
So fall into the slow rhythm of Apulian culture where you will be greeted by smells of homemade orecchiette pasta, all kinds of local delicious vegetable recipes featuring olives and tomatoes as well as mouthwatering meat stews and roasts. Try asking for ciceri e tria in your little local restaurant. To end on a sweet note, it is a must to go for a pasticciotto Leccese, a heavenly tasty dessert made of shortcrust pastry, filled with custard and baked in the oven.