Lecce

Lecce is the crown jewel of the Mezzogiorno. The city is affectionately referred to as "the Florence of the south," but that sobriquet doesn't do justice to Lecce's uniqueness in the Italian landscape. Though its pretty boutiques, lively bars, and the impossibly intricate baroque architecture draw comparisons to the cultural capitals of the north, Lecce's bustling streets, laid-back student cafés, and magical evening passeggiata are distinctively southern. The city is a cosmopolitan oasis two steps from the idyllic Otranto-Brindisi coastline and a hop from the olive-grove countryside of Puglia. Relatively undiscovered by foreign tourists, Lecce exudes an optimism and youthful joie de vivre unparalleled in any other baroque showcase. There's no Lecce of the north.