Lecce Cortili Aperti

A journey into hidden Lecce

Lecce Cortili Aperti is the grand event that, on a Sunday in May, opens the atriums, courtyards, loggias, secret gardens, and noble palaces of Lecce's historic centre to the public for free—private residences that are normally closed and inaccessible. Organized by the Puglia Section of the Italian Historic Houses Association (A.D.S.I. ETS) with the support of the Municipality of Lecce, the event is part of the National Historic Houses Day and allows citizens and tourists to discover sixteenth-century courtyards, Baroque loggias, and archaeological layers in the heart of the Salento capital.

Palaces, churches, and gardens

Each edition features a network of over forty locations, including residences, churches, convents, cloisters, and gardens in the historic centre. Recurring highlights include Palazzo Turrisi Palumbo, Palazzo Zimara, Palazzo Marrese, Castello Carlo V, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Church of Santa Elisabetta, the Church of San Sebastiano (Fondazione Palmieri), and the MUST - Historical Museum of the City of Lecce. The venues vary from year to year, always offering new discoveries for those exploring the itinerary through the city streets.

Music, dance, and workshops

Cortili Aperti is more than just a tour: throughout the day, the courtyards come alive with musical performances ranging from classical to jazz, singer-songwriter tracks to pizzica and traditional Salento folk music, featuring young local musicians alongside national and international artists. The program is completed by period-costume dances, craft workshops, exhibitions, and art installations, as well as guided tours in Italian and English and historical walks outside the city walls.

A heritage to experience

Created to promote and raise awareness of the heritage of private historic residences, the event has become a signature appointment for Lecce and all of Puglia, capable of telling the story of the Baroque city from an unusual and intimate perspective. Usual hours cover the morning and late afternoon, with free admission to most locations. Cortili Aperti is the ideal opportunity to experience Lecce away from the usual tourist trails, amidst the beauty, history, and traditions of Salento.