Written by Ylenia Sambati, Puglia Travel Consultant
Many of you often ask me for guidance on travel planning or for help choosing a hotel, a restaurant, a special place for some reason. They know how fond I am of this area (molto innamorata) and how much I adore sharing all things “Puglia beauty” with them.
Very discerning travelers are always welcome: travelers with must have experiences, a particular travel style, interests, preferred atmosphere, culinary and wine passions, type of accommodations. In the end, I’ll develop an itinerary that is created just for them, not simply a tour, because I will have created an experience for them.
Some clients call me the Puglia dream creator – which I like so much, grazie di cuore – simply because after asking some very simple questions about what they like or not, I can easily design a unique experience for them. Not the common, standard tour you can obviously find everywhere, but my very special tours, designed with love & light.
Let me introduce you to a wonderful Puglia destination: Lecce, my hometown. Bella e aristocratica: Lecce, the capital of Baroque, will wrap you in a virtual hug. This town is worth a visit, simply a magical city, so unique with its style, culture and allure that there is nothing else quite like it in Italy. Why do I love Lecce? Because it has personality, it’s like a good mannered place, always elegant, with class.
Everywhere you look there is something inspiring to take in: a baroque decoration, a balcony, an inspiring window. It is a showcase of poetic beauty, culture, cuisine, design, aestheticity. The pietra leccese creates a magical and rarefied atmosphere: baroque art is in every corner.
You’ll take home lifelong memories such as exploring the streets of the old town, sipping a cappuccino in one of the many cafes, find your favorite book in one of the trendy bookstores, taste indigenous wines, discover the design shops, including furniture and jewels, artisanal “botteghe” and antique shops, just getting lost in the many undiscovered unique spots.
I pride myself on providing a truly unique Lecce experience through exquisite locations, hand-picked accommodations, experiences with locals, stops in unique spots, shops, wine bars. And yes, I have to admit, I love having my clients discover Lecce, but the Lecce I love most…chic, sophisticated, seductive, bellissima, cultivated.
You may walk through a path with trees holding quotes from famous authors of pastimes: Shakespeare, Proust, Baudelaire, Pirandello because the leccesi (who love these types of things moltissimo) find it is more inspiring to walk or cycle breathing culture. Or listen to Tito Schipa, a Lecce born Operatic Tenor, in Piazza Sant’Oronzo singing an Air for the most enchanting seconds you may spend in that part of the historic town at noon. Isn’t all this amazing? Yes, it is.
This is the ultimate tour of Lecce that I have designed and I invite you to come along with YLTOUR PR on this experience.
And it goes without saying, if you are thinking about heading to Puglia call me, I have insider access and many off the beaten path places to share with you.