thumb|240px|Torre Sant'Andrea
thumb|Torre dell'Orso beach
thumb|Salandra square in [[Nardò]]
The province of Lecce (; Salentino: ) is a province in the region of Apulia in Italy. Its capital is the city of Lecce. Located on the Salento peninsula, the province is called the "Heel of Italy". Located on the Salento peninsula,
The province has a population of 761,927 in an area of across its 97 municipalities. It is the second most-populous province in Apulia and the 22nd most populous province in Italy.
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.
Municipalities
- Alessano
- Alezio
- Alliste
- Andrano
- Aradeo
- Arnesano
- Bagnolo del Salento
- Botrugno
- Calimera
- Campi Salentina
- Cannole
- Caprarica di Lecce
- Carmiano
- Carpignano Salentino
- Casarano
- Castri di Lecce
- Castrignano de' Greci
- Castrignano del Capo
- Castro
- Cavallino
- Collepasso
- Copertino
- Corigliano d'Otranto
- Corsano
- Cursi
- Cutrofiano
- Diso
- Gagliano del Capo
- Galatina
- Galatone
- Gallipoli
- Giuggianello
- Giurdignano
- Guagnano
- Lecce
- Lequile
- Leverano
- Lizzanello
- Maglie
- Martano
- Martignano
- Matino
- Melendugno
- Melissano
- Melpignano
- Miggiano
- Minervino di Lecce
- Monteroni di Lecce
- Montesano Salentino
- Morciano di Leuca
- Muro Leccese
- Nardò
- Neviano
- Nociglia
- Novoli
- Ortelle
- Otranto
- Palmariggi
- Parabita
- Patù
- Poggiardo
- Porto Cesareo
- Presicce-Acquarica
- Racale
- Ruffano
- Salice Salentino
- Salve
- San Cassiano
- San Cesario di Lecce
- San Donato di Lecce
- San Pietro in Lama
- Sanarica
- Sannicola
- Santa Cesarea Terme
- Scorrano
- Seclì
- Sogliano Cavour
- Soleto
- Specchia
- Spongano
- Squinzano
- Sternatia
- Supersano
- Surano
- Surbo
- Taurisano
- Taviano
- Tiggiano
- Trepuzzi
- Tricase
- Tuglie
- Ugento
- Uggiano La Chiesa
- Veglie
- Vernole
- Zollino
Demographics
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%.
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
As of 2025, of the known countries of birth of 745,595 residents, the most numerous are: Italy (706,210 – 94.7%), Germany (7,775 – 1%).
Tourism
The is located in the province. It is a protected area that was set up in 1977 along the Adriatic coast near Lecce. The Reserve is home to a large number of animals such as foxes, hedgehogs, badgers, weasels, reptiles and birds. A variety of Mediterranean plants species is also found here. Lakes Alimini Grande and Alimini Piccolo are also located in the province. Lake Alimini Piccolo is found further inland and consists of freshwater; this water comes from the groundwater channel of the Rio Grande. Alimini Piccolo's depth does not exceed half a meter.
Another tourist destination is the Ciolo, which is a canyon and includes also many caves. It is a natural habitat for many species of vagile meiofauna and ferns.