Charles V Castle of Lecce

3 October 2025. The website was broken so couldn’t buy tickets ahead. Turned up early for 1600 tour. Lovely ladies at the desk had no idea website wasn’t working so walked them through what we did - apparently an upgrade occurred yesterday. Was told tickets are €10 each and have to do a guided tour (consistent with website). However, tour is only in Italian. You have to download an app (you can use their wifi), then download 20mb specific to the castle and follow via an audio tour. So basically you pay €10 for a self guided audio tour but have to walk with the guide. And then technology used is crap and problematic - kicked me out multiple times as we walked around and had to delete and reinstall several times. As an IT professional it’s a disgrace. The front desk, if it wasn’t for the lovely ladies, was an utter debacle. Majority of our tour were English speaking and everyone had problems with the app and the wifi. To the tour, the guide was helpful with letting us know where we were and when to use the audio app. Her English was limited so really couldn’t ask questions. The guide enabled us to see locked off areas of the castle, most of which relied on the audio. There were a couple of spots where there were information posters in English. Maybe it was the rain but I think we missed parts of the castle. Would I recommend? IT Issues aside, no.

A true historical fortress in the heart of Lecce. Castello Carlo V is an impressive structure that tells centuries of military and political history. Originally built during the medieval era, the castle was expanded under Emperor Charles V in the 16th century to reinforce the city’s defenses. Today, the structure blends ancient stonework with archaeological remains, exhibitions, and peaceful inner courtyards (cortili interni) that reflect the grandeur of the past. The entrance is simple and rustic, but once inside, you can explore towers (torri), old prisons (prigioni), a small museum, and even the Cappella di Santa Barbara. Un viaggio affascinante nel cuore della storia leccese. Don’t miss it if you want to feel the military soul of Lecce.

Our guide gave us a very detailed insight into the history of this exceptional small fortress. Guided tour gave us access to the original chapel, dwellings and dungeon.

The entire south and east sides are blocked off for construction, there are African vendors all around selling crap, it feels more like a circus than a historical site. Stay away and save your money! Better pictures on the internet.

Very interesting tour and two helpful ladies on ticket desk.

Just did the paid tour of Castello, amphitheatre & arena (with Roberta as our guide), we found her tour enjoyable and good value. Having the opportunity to enter areas that the public cannot and hearing from our knowledgeable guide extra stories and historical information was great. Would recommend.

As it stands, it’s not really worth visiting. Without a guided tour (offered only in Italian), there’s simply nothing to see besides the two entrances and the main courtyard. With the guided tour (€8), you can see the chapel, the dungeon, and the throne room—nothing more. It’s a shame, because the site has so much potential, yet very little of it is being used. Many visitors just walk through and think, “Nah, okay…” They could take inspiration from the Castello Svevo di Bari, where almost everything is open to explore, with English information panels, animations, and short films that make the experience engaging. Right now, they’re missing a big opportunity—not only to showcase the full potential of the castle, but also to earn more revenue by charging an entrance fee in exchange for opening more rooms and courtyards

12th century castle in the historic centre of Lecce. Some sections are closed for renovation. Tickets required for walking inside.