A Perfect Italian Weekend | Lecce

This week Paul del Giglio, the director of Rivesto Italia takes us along on his perfect weekend in his home town of Lecce, Puglia.

Paul del Giglio

My name is Paul an Australian/Italian living in Lecce, Italy. I have worked in the fashion industry in Milan, Sydney and London for many years. My husband and I would often come to Italy as a holiday favourite and fell in love with Puglia, especially the baroque city of Lecce and its enchanting way of life. During 2020, we were looking for a lifestyle change and I wanted to reconnect with my Italian heritage. On visits to Puglia I discovered the unique ceramics of the southern Italian region that really fascinated me – not simply the aesthetic beauty of the found pieces but also their story – they spoke of the history of the land, its people and its heritage. Once we called Lecce home, I decided to launch Rivesto Italia, as an online store, to share the beauty of Pugliese ceramica rustica with the world.

Saturday

On Saturdays, we love to do day trips to the many beautiful towns that dot the Salento region – discovering little gems like Acaya and Specchia, or revisiting larger ones like Nardò and Galatina. Each place has its own flavour that gently unfolds as you wander through them - whether that be its own unique style of architecture or twists on local dishes, even dialects can change from town to town. One thing that remains constant is the hospitality of the Pugliese people - always warm and welcoming. It’s easy to strike up a conversation with a local on the piazza, who is more than willing to share their knowledge of their birthplace - its history and perhaps more importantly their favourite trattoria or pasticceria. Their suggestions will often become our perennial favourites in the region - like Tana del Lupo in Nardò, Rua de li Travaj in Patù, and Trattoria da Eleonora in Alessano.

Sunday

Sunday mornings are perfect for ‘potting’ about Lecce. I love to have a morning coffee on our terrace surrounded by the beautiful ceramics I’ve collected over the years. I can spend hours admiring their handcrafted form, getting lost in their patina and glaze, thinking about their past stories. I often rotate the pottery on the terrazza which is my display space for Rivesto Italia, giving me the opportunity to enjoy the pieces before they find a new home. It also allows me to discover new combinations of colour and form, which informs my weekly releases at Rivesto Italia. Feeling rejuvenated we often head to Pasticceria Pinti at Porta San Biagio to sit outside and watch the world go by in true southern Italian style, indulging in their amazing frolla (a warm biscuit pastry filled with ricotta cream and citrus accents), accompanied by an espressino (a longer macchiato). In summer months I switch to a caffè in ghiaccio con latte di mandorla (coffee on ice with a dash of almond syrup) - a local specialty. We then head to our local farmer’s markets at Piazza Federico Bottazzi for fresh produce, from seasonal fruit and vegetables to eggs, cheese and a fantastic selection of breads – often the inspiration for a long, typically southern Italian, Sunday lunch.