During the Christmas period, Apulia is enriched with lights and colours that make its typical atmosphere even more magical. Lecce, in particular, is the perfect destination to spend winter holidays, thanks to many attractions and events.
1. Living Nativity Scenes
As in many other places in Southern Italy, the tradition of living nativity scenes has been handed down from generation to generation in Apulia. One of the most famous in the province of Lecce is the one in Tricase: here, for over thirty years, one of the largest and most beautiful living nativity scenes in all of Salento has been organised every year, with over 250 actors performing in about 4 hectares of Mediterranean scrub. Other famous living nativity scenes in the area are the medieval one in Castro and the one in the centre of Casarano.
2. Visit the monumental nativity scene
In addition to living nativity scenes organised in the neighbouring villages, in Lecce it is possible to see an amazing monumental nativity scene, realised every year inside the Roman Amphitheatre in Piazza Sant’Oronzo, in the heart of the city. The characters in the nativity scene are life-size, can be observed from above and are made with cartapesta, an ancient art typically found in Salento.
3. Santa Lucia’s Fair
The traditional Santa Lucia’s Fair, held in Lecce’s Chiosco dei Teatini from 8 December, is an exhibition of ancient handicrafts. Sculptures represent nativity figures and cribs in terracotta and cartapesta. One of the most popular representations is that of puppets, made entirely by hand by master craftsmen.
4. Stroll through Christmas markets
Christmas markets are a typical aspect of Christmas in Lecce, as well as many other wonderful places in Southern Italy. Among the most important, we cannot fail to mention the so-called “Christmas Craftsman“, which has been held in Lecce for several years in Piazza Sant’Oronzo. This market offers the opportunity to buy works by local craftsmen, but also to taste typical sweets from the Salento area.
5. Taste typical Christmas sweets
The most popular Christmas sweets in Lecce include mustazzoli, filled wtih sugar, almonds and honey and a chocolate icing coating. Other typical Christmas sweets in Lecce are purceddhruzzi with citrus fruit juice in the dough, and the carteddhrate, fried spirals garnished with vincotto.
Would you like to spend your Christmas holidays in Lecce? Find among our stay offers in Salento, the best solution to enjoy your holidays with your family or friends. If you want to spend Christmas holidays to visit all the most beautiful places in Apulia, you can choose one of our tours, such as Grand Tour Apulia and Matera – Christmas and New Year, or if you have fewer days available, the 5-day Mini Tour Apulia – Christmas and New Year.