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Province of Lecce

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Province of Lecce
Provincia di Lecce (Italian)
Provincia te Lècce (Salentino)
Province
The Cathedral of Gallipoli
The Cathedral of Gallipoli
Flag of Province of Lecce
Flag
Coat of arms of Province of Lecce
Coat of arms
Location of the Province of Lecce in Italy
Location of the Province of Lecce in Italy
Country Italy
Region Apulia
Capital(s)Lecce
Municipalities97
Government
 • PresidentFabio Tarantino
Area
[1]
 • Total
2,799.07 km2 (1,080.73 sq mi)
Population
 (2026)[2]
 • Total
761,927
 • Density272.207/km2 (705.013/sq mi)
GDP
[3]
 • Total€12.715 billion (2015)
 • Per capita€15,789 (2015)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
73001-73100
Telephone prefix0832, 0833, 0836
Vehicle registrationLE
ISTAT code075
Torre Sant'Andrea
Torre dell'Orso beach
Salandra square in Nardò

The province of Lecce (Italian: provincia di Lecce; Salentino: provincia te Lècce) is a province in the region of Apulia in southern Italy. Its capital is the city of Lecce. Located on the Salento peninsula, the province is called the "Heel of Italy".[4] Located on the Salento peninsula,[5]

The province has a population of 761,927 in an area of 2,799.07 square kilometres (1,080.73 mi2) across its 97 municipalities. It is the second most-populous province in Apulia and the 22nd most populous province in Italy.[2][1]

It is surrounded by the provinces Taranto and Brindisi in the northwest, the Ionian Sea in the west, and the Adriatic Sea in the east.[6] This location has established it as a popular tourist destination. It has been ruled by the Romans, Byzantine Greeks, Carolingians, Lombards, and Normans.[7] The important towns are Lecce, Gallipoli, Nardò, Maglie, and Otranto.[8] Its important agricultural products are wheat and corn.[9] Lecce stone extracted from the province has been used to decorate several historical monuments and is widely used for interior decoration.[10]

History

[edit]

The province of Lecce has its origins in the medieval Giustizierato, known then as the province of Terra d'Otranto. During the medieval era, Muslim slaves were transported from the province's ports and the practice of keeping slaves was common.[11] Since the eleventh century the Terra d'Otranto included the territories of the provinces of Lecce, Taranto and Brindisi, with the exception of Fasano and Cisternino. During this time Lecce was severely affected by poverty despite the production of olive oil.[12] People from Lecce migrated to the Province of Bari, where they worked in the wine industry.[13] Up to 1663, the province of Terra d'Otranto also included the territory of Matera (Basilicata). Its first capital was Otranto but in the Norman period (twelfth century), Lecce city was made the capital. After the unification of Italy, the name Terra d'Otranto was changed to province of Lecce and its territory was divided into the four districts; Lecce, Gallipoli, Brindisi and Taranto. Its break-up began in 1923 when the district of Taranto was transformed into the new province of the Ionian.[14]

After the first world war economic conditions worsened and unemployment peaked. These factors, coupled with the negligence of the weak government, prompted farm workers to revolt against their employers. Farm owners were captured and paraded in public places.[15]

Municipalities

[edit]

The province has 97 municipalities:

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1861225,678—    
1871250,520+11.0%
1881278,915+11.3%
1901348,530+25.0%
1911389,476+11.7%
1921427,166+9.7%
1931489,202+14.5%
1936526,553+7.6%
1951623,905+18.5%
1961678,338+8.7%
1971696,503+2.7%
1981762,017+9.4%
1991803,977+5.5%
2001787,825−2.0%
2011802,018+1.8%
2021775,348−3.3%
Source: ISTAT[16][17]

As of 2026, the population is 761,927, of which 48.3% are male, and 51.7% are female. Minors make up 13.7% of the population, and seniors make up 27.0%.[2]

Lecce has several ethnic and linguistic minority groups. A Griko community of around 40,000 lives in the Grecia Salentina region in the central area of the province, and there is an Arbëreshe community in Soleto.

Immigration

[edit]

As of 2025, immigrants make up 7.6% of the population. The 5 largest foreign countries of birth are Switzerland, Germany,