Christmas in Lecce/ Open courtyards at Christmas

As if obeying the jingle of a holiday bell, the doors of Lecce's noble palaces open with 'Open Courtyards at Christmas'. The customary spring appointment also peeps out in December thanks to the Associazione Dimore Storiche and the Municipality of Lecce, which, among the ideal presents under the tree for Lecce residents and tourists, add the extraordinary opening of the beautiful courtyards and a series of events including music, theatre, art, books and shows.

The evocative route could start from Porta San Biagio.

Walking along Via dei Perroni, one enters Palazzo Grassi (street number 12) where, from 11 am, the cultural association 'Alfredo Pagliaro ed il suo teatro leccese' (Alfredo Pagliaro and his theatre from Lecce) with Gina Pennetta will be on stage. At 5.30 pm, there is music by the Sweat Beat Trio.

At no. 14, Palazzo dei Perroni welcomes the notes of the lesser-known Neapolitan repertoire and the voice and guitar of Franco Tommasi. From 11am to 12.30pm and from 5pm to 7.30pm.

Then we arrive in the presence of the most 'theatrical' of churches, San Matteo, and moving a little further on, we can admire the 'Nativity in Art' in the spaces of Ship in arte by Treggiari. 

In Via Guglielmo Paladini, at no. 14, Palazzo Brunetti is the setting for "Wa fale lis Swing ladin'Evening" Class Jazz (at 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.) while further on, at no. 50, Palazzo Tamborino Cezzi becomes the stage for "Pupe di pane", a performance about bread and its stories organised by AMA (performances at 11 a.m., 12 noon, 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.). Reservations recommended. Info: 338/3746581.

In Via Marco Basseo, number 31 of Palazzo Sambiasi is the gateway to 'Cibus' and a tasty and ideal walk through the market of ancient Rome.

Palazzo Rollo, at no. 14 Via Vittorio Emanuele II, hosts Ciki Forchetti and her "Nite City for Christmas" (from 11 am to 12.30 pm and from 5 pm to 7.30 pm) while Palazzo Sant'Anna and its hamlet, at no. 17 Via delle Giravolte, opens to "Canzoni in forma di rosa" (Songs in the form of a rose), a tribute to Pier Paolo Pasolini on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Project by Vania Palúmbo with the participation of Luca Tarantino, Cristian Musio and Salvo Cezza (at 11 am). The same building, at 6.30 p.m., hosts the pages and the author of "L'oratorio della peste. Il segreto di Lecce' by Raffale Gorgoni.

From 5 to 7.30 p.m., on the other hand, one can stroll through the 'illuminated garden' of Dimora Muratore, in via Scarambone, 36.

The route through the courtyards of the palaces can finally end in the presence of the nativity and art by visiting the exhibition 'Presepi del maestri salentini' (Nativity scenes of the Salento masters) set up in the Rococo spaces of the Madonna della Nova church in via Idomeneo 6 and enlivened by the musical moments of the Ensemble La Jacquerie 'Ad cantum leticie'.

The courtyards are open and can be visited from 10 am to 1 pm and from 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm.