Vittorio Emanuele II Street

Vittorio Emanuele II Street runs through the heart of Lecce, where you can admire some of the city’s most significant monuments.\n\nStarting from Piazza Sant’Oronzo, you delve into the historic center among magical baroque balconies and churches that seem embroidered in Lecce stone. The first sacred building is the Church of Sant’Irene with the adjacent former Convent of the Teatini, a venue for exhibitions, markets and cultural events.\n\nAncient palaces and homes line the route, with small shops, restaurants and workshops of cartapesta artisans, until you reach the splendid Piazza Duomo. Continuing, you enter Via Libertini, where you can admire other notable architectures, such as the former Conservatory of Sant’Anna, the Academy of Fine Arts and the Hospital of the Holy Spirit, before reaching Porta Rudiae.\n\nVittorio Emanuele II Street is the historic shopping street of Lecce, lined with shops of various kinds, including several workshops where you can find typical products of Salentine craftsmanship, starting with Lecce cartapesta, as well as local gastronomy.