From the Historic Centre to the Masserie: Local Experiences to Discover from the City

Lecce is often celebrated for its Baroque architecture, its façades carved in warm Lecce stone, and the luminous squares of the historic centre. Yet the city is also an ideal starting point for discovering the surrounding landscape.
Just a few kilometres away, the scenery changes completely: from urban streets you move into olive groves, countryside roads and the traditional masserie of Salento, places where agricultural heritage and hospitality still meet today.

A walk through the city before setting out

The journey can begin right in the historic centre of Lecce. A walk through Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the Duomo area and the streets around Via Palmieri allows you to connect with the city’s rhythm.
Among artisan workshops and small galleries, it’s easy to encounter craftsmen working with papier-mâché, ceramics or stone. These are living traces of a material culture that still shapes the identity of the region.

These urban stops prepare the eye for what lies just beyond the city walls.

The masserie: the rural heart of Salento

Leaving the city behind, the landscape slowly shifts. Ancient olive trees, dry-stone walls and cultivated fields accompany the road toward the masserie of Salento—historic fortified farmhouses that tell centuries of rural life and work.
Many of these masserie now welcome visitors eager to experience local traditions firsthand: from the production of extra virgin olive oil to cheese-making workshops, and the preparation of traditional dishes made with seasonal ingredients.

Visiting these places means connecting with a culture built on slow gestures, seasonal rhythms and knowledge passed down through generations.

Authentic experiences between craftsmanship and nature

Beyond the masserie, the area surrounding Lecce offers many ways to experience Salento more deeply.
You might join local cooking classes, participate in papier-mâché or ceramic workshops, or enjoy wine tastings in historic wineries and craft beer experiences produced in the region.

Those who prefer nature can explore cycling routes through olive groves or visit places such as the Abbey of Santa Maria di Cerrate, where art, spirituality and landscape meet in a peaceful setting.

Returning to the city and its urban rhythm

After a day spent among countryside traditions, returning to Lecce feels different. The lights of the historic centre, the outdoor tables and the conversations filling the squares reveal the city’s lively side once again.
The contrast between countryside and city creates a richer experience—two worlds existing just a few kilometres apart.

Staying at Eos Hotel makes it easy to organise these excursions while enjoying the comfort of the city. From here, Lecce becomes the ideal base to discover masserie, artisans and landscapes of Salento, experiencing something different each day.

Just a few minutes from the hotel, you can walk through the historic centre in the morning and, shortly after, find yourself immersed in the Salento countryside among olive trees, farmhouses and stories rooted in the land.