Two-Hour Underground Walk, Tastings

Two-Hour Underground Walk, Tastings, 2 hours, rated 4.4 across 385 traveller reviews.

Overview

This Lecce walking tour spends two hours moving from the street level of the old town down into the excavated layers below it, ending with a glass of wine and taralli snacks. It starts at Porta Rudiae and works through the centre on foot, passing the Cathedral and its bell tower in Piazza Duomo, Piazza Sant'Oronzo with the column and statue of the patron saint, the Church of Santa Croce, and the Roman Amphitheater excavations. The final and longest stop is the Faggiano Archaeological Museum, where the group goes underground to see the archaeology beneath the city.

The tour is run by LecceGo and is led in Italian, English and French, which means explanations are often translated rather than delivered once. Guides are frequently named in reviews as knowledgeable and happy to answer questions, and several travellers said the pace suits a mixed group, with one describing being gently taken around rather than marched. There is no pickup, so everyone makes their own way to the meeting point on Via Giuseppe Libertini.

It suits visitors who want a compact introduction to Lecce's history with a food and wine moment at the end. The walk covers the main squares and churches plus an underground museum, and one reviewer recommended taking it at the beginning of a stay in Lecce. Church entry tickets and transport are not included, but the museum ticket and the tasting are.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Porta RudiaeThe group meets at Porta Rudiae, Via Giuseppe Libertini, Lecce. The listing asks participants to arrive 10 minutes before the start.
2. Walk into the centreA 10-minute walk from the gate into the historic centre.
3. First Lecce visitA 10-minute guided stop among the streets and monuments of the old town.
4. Walk and second stopA 15-minute walk followed by a 10-minute visit through the historic centre.
5. Walk and third stopA 10-minute walk, then a 15-minute visit taking in more of the city's churches, squares and monuments.
6. Walk to the museumA 10-minute walk to the Faggiano Archaeological Museum.
7. Faggiano Museum and tastingA 30-minute visit underground in the Faggiano Archaeological Museum, with the ticket included. The tour finishes with a glass of wine and taralli snacks.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking this walk.

• Getting there. There is no pickup or transport included. The meeting point is Porta Rudiae on Via Giuseppe Libertini, and the listing asks everyone to arrive 10 minutes early.
• Pace and walking. The whole tour is on foot for two hours, split into short walks between stops. Several reviewers described the pace as comfortable and right for the group, with one noting they were not marched around.
• Multilingual guiding. The guide speaks Italian, English and French. Reviews mention translations being given for part of the group, so explanations in your language may come after others have heard theirs.
• Food and drink. A glass of wine and taralli are included at the end. Reviewers called the closing aperitivo a nice finish, and the tasting is listed as part of the price.
• Staying with the group. One reviewer noted the guide does not carry a flag or count heads, and that hearing explanations in three languages means waits at stops. Keeping close to the guide is the practical answer.
• Timing your visit. One reviewer recommended taking this tour at the beginning of a stay in Lecce, since it covers the main squares and monuments. Another mentioned the guide adjusted for a hot day by keeping the group in the shade.

Common issues. Because the guide explains in Italian, English and French, you may wait while other languages are spoken, and one reviewer felt this created repeated pauses. The same reviewer pointed out that the guide does not carry a flag or count the group, so it is possible to get left behind if you linger. Church tickets and transportation are not included, and there is no pickup, so you must reach Porta Rudiae on your own. One reviewer also felt the tour could include more facts compared with other walks they had taken.

Common Questions