Discover the southern Italian paradise with a villa in Lecce

Lecce, near the port of Brindisi, is one of the largest cities in Salento on the "heel of Italy", and is a richly cultural city with over 2,000 years of history. There are so many things to see when you book a villa in Lecce, especially - in typical Italian style - a number of impressive churches and religious buildings, like the Basilica di Santa Croce, the church of the Holy Cross, with its incredibly detailed façade, which was built over a period of 350 years and finally finished at the end of the 17th century. The churches of San Matteo and Sant'Irene are just two of many other impressive churches. More great sights include Porto Napoli, the main city gate, and the Roman amphitheatre.

Sample the great Italian wine and food during your stay in Lecce accommodation

Salento is the number one producer of olive oil and wine in Italy - quite an impressive feat - and the quality is generally very high, you'll definitely want to bring some home if you rent an apartment in Lecce. Deliciously prepared seafood is also widely available, along with almond cakes and pastries, and delicious breads. While Lecce accommodation is not on the coast, it's not far to some great beaches: Bari, on the west coast, and Leuca, the furthest south point of the peninsula, are both under an hour's drive. Both the Ionian and Adriatic Seas are typically a stunning clear turquoise, perfect for swimming, and the beaches are clean and white.