Province of Lecce

Not to be confused with Province of Lecco.
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
Map highlighting the location of the Province of Lecce in Italy
Map highlighting the location of the Province of Lecce in Italy
Country Italy
RegionApulia
Capital(s)Lecce
Comuni97
Government
 • PresidentStefano Minerva
Area
 • Total
2,799.07 km2 (1,080.73 sq mi)
Population
 (30 June 2016)
 • Total
802,807
 • Density290/km2 (740/sq mi)
GDP
[1]
 • 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
ISTAT075
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 Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Lecce. The province is called the "Heel of Italy".[2] Located on the Salento peninsula, it is the second most-populous province in Apulia and the 21st most-populous province in Italy.[3]

The province occupies an area of 2,799.07 square kilometres (1,080.73 sq mi) and has a total population of 802,807 (2016). There are 97 comuni (sg.: comune) in the province. 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.[4] This location has established it as a popular tourist destination. It has been ruled by the Romans, Byzantine Greeks, Carolingians, Lombards, and Normans.[5] The important towns are Lecce, Gallipoli, Nardò, Maglie, and Otranto.[6] Its important agricultural products are wheat and corn.[7]

  1. ^ "Regions and Cities > Regional Statistics > Regional Economy > Regional Gross Domestic Product (Small regions TL3)". OECD.Stats. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Province of Lecce". Understanding Italy. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  3. ^ "Statistiche demografiche ISTAT" (in Italian). demo.istat.it. 2009-12-30.
  4. ^ Domenico 2002, p. 26.
  5. ^ Domenico 2002, p. 27.
  6. ^ Domenico 2002, p. 28.
  7. ^ Macgregor 1843, p. 1171.