Lecce is known for its incredible Baroque architecture. The city is like, an open-air museum and you should dedicate time to walking around the historical center, but all that walking is bound to leave you hungry!
And lucky for you, Lecce has outstanding street food.
You will be able to walk through the city, taking it all in and stopping here and there to refuel as you need. You will never be far away from a perfect snack.
5 Street Foods Not to Miss When You Visit Lecce:
1. Pasticciotto
The decadent Pasticciotto is a buttery, crumbly oval-shaped pastry traditionally filled with custard.
Nowadays, there are many variations on the classic. Black cherries are added to the custard filling in the most common variation. During the Obama administration, the Obama Pasticiotto made with chocolate pastry and filled with chocolate cream was popular, if not politically incorrect.
Pasticiotto can be eaten for breakfast for a sweet start to the day, as a mid-morning snack (sometimes you can find mini Pasticiotto, which are ideal for a small, sweet pick-me-up), or after meals as a dessert.
Where to try: Bar Cotognata Leccese
2. Rustico
The Rustico is a round-shaped savory, flakey pastry filled with bechamel sauce, a little bit of tomato sauce, and mozzarella, although the latter does not always make an appearance.
The best Rustici, in my opinion, have a more liquid versus solid bechamel sauce, which makes them harder to eat (read: messier) but more delicious.
Where to try: Caffè Alvino
3. Pizzo
Not to be confused with pizza, Pizzo is a savory bread made with tomatoes, onions, and olives. Be careful as the olives often still have the pits! I have been very close to chipping a tooth in the past while overzealously tearing into a Pizzo.
Where to try: Il Fornaio
4. Calzone
Fried goodness! I could stop there, but I’ll go on. A Calzone, also sometimes referred to as a Panzerotto, is filled with mozzarella and tomato sauce, folded over into a half-moon shape, and fried to golden perfection.
Another word of warning, when freshly made, the inside of a Calzone is boiling. Proceed with caution.
The traditional filling is mozzarella and tomato sauce, but there are many variations on the original available, including both sweet and savory. A chocolate and hazelnut-filled Calzone is definitely worth a try!
Where to try: Fusci Mói
5. Caffè Leccese
Okay, technically not a food, but well worth a try when you are in Lecce. The Caffè Leccese also often referred to as a Caffè in Ghiaccio con Latte di Mandorla is an iced shot of espresso with “almond milk.” This is not your health store, watery almond milk, but instead thick, sweet, almondy goodness more akin to a syrup.
Where to try: Avio
Pro Tip: if you are departing Lecce by train, the bar at the train station has good pasticiotti and rustici. Grab a few before leaving. They make excellent train snacks! Just don’t forget the napkins.
Have you been to Lecce or is it on your travel list? Which street food would you like to try first?
If you are thinking of traveling to Puglia and would like expert help with planning your trip, contact me. I’d be thrilled to help you and to make sure that you have an extraordinary time.
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