In the region of Apulia, which Italy is famous for, tourists can visit a wonderful city called Lecce. Why does this city attract tourists so much? The settlement is incredibly picturesque and never ceases to amaze its visitors with unparalleled beauty. Local people often call their homeland the Athens of Apulia as there is a Greek community in the city. Some people call Lecce “Southern Florence” because of a great number of architectural landmarks in Baroque style. Perhaps, the “Golden City” is the most interesting nickname of Lecce. This name appeared because of the golden limestone mining in the region. Many local buildings are made from this material. On a sunny day, the city shines as if it is made of gold. The Messapians were the first inhabitants of the region. They founded a settlement called Sybar on the site of modern Lecce. The region attracted many different tribes but the Romans paid their attention to the area and conquered it in the 3rd century. When the Roman Empire added Lecce to its territory, the city started developing and growing in size. Many beautiful buildings appeared in the city at that time. However, the Visigoths invaded the region after the fall of the Roman Empire. They plundered the Italian city and made many local people suffer. The invasion of the Visigoths started a period of uncertainty in the history of Lecce. The city frequently changed its “owners” – the Byzantines ruled here, followed by the Saracens, and after that
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