The Italian city of Lecce, located in the far, far south of Italy, is a city on the rise. Voted one of the top ten cities to visit in 2010 by MSN Travel and Lonely Planet, it has tons of qualities that you won’t find anywhere else in Italy. Sure, it doesn’t have gondolas or the Sistine Chapel. Fine. It’s not even located near Rome; in fact, it’s a 5-7 hour train ride from Rome. And yeah, you do have to extend your Italian-language skills as far as they go, but isn’t that part of what traveling is all about? Of all the qualities of Lecce worth listing, there are two that I should get out of the way first: low prices and stunning architecture.

Puglia, the region in which Lecce is located, is one of the poorest regions in the European Union; this is because most of its economy focuses on agriculture. Everywhere you go in Puglia, you will find groves (more like forests) of olive trees and fields of grapevines. This adherence to tradition is my favorite attribute of the region, and you can taste it everywhere you go. Besides great food and wine, the region boasts low prices. Hotels and beautiful B&Bs commonly run 50-80 euro a night for doubles. A complete meal for two with wine can cost as little as 30-40 euro. So, unlike many of the more popular tourist destinations in Italy, Lecce won’t steal your wallet along with your heart.

Its architecture is Lecce’s primary asset, most of which came into existence during the 17th Century, thanks to a period of gentrification spurred on by the Hapsburg Dynasty. Lecce demonstrates Baroque architecture unlike anywhere else on earth. The façade of the famous Santa Croce church is a stunning mix of religious figures and mythological creatures. The church’s beauty makes it a prime location for Italian weddings, and every summer the church’s steps are carpeted with flower petals. The city’s numerous other churches are nearly as immaculate as Santa Croce, and jump out around every corner. Even the homes in Lecce tout impressive carvings and sculptures because the stone with which everything in the city is made, Lecce stone, is a high-quality limestone that is ideal for sculpting.

I began visiting Lecce in 2006. After seeing so many other cities in Italy, I hadn’t expected to find Lecce’s Duomo or ancient ruins so impressive. Furthermore, many of the other towns and cities in Puglia that I had visited did not have the sheer beauty that this “Florence of the south” promised. But Lecce pays off, and I’ve returned regularly ever since.

The best times to visit the city are April through the end of June and August 27th through mid-November. Summer in Lecce is beautiful and there are an endless number of outdoor events, such as outdoor symphonies, jazz concerts, and cultural arts of all sorts. And the city is very, very busy with Italian, Greek, and German tourists. The best accommodations are the B&Bs located in the city center. They are an unparalleled way to experience the town’s old history.