An accordion player in the shade of the balcony-lined street, serenading the strolling pedestrians; an artist working on a canvas in charcoals, chatting with folks stopping in the street to admire his creativity. These were modern elements of our experience visiting the town of Lecce to appreciate the antiquities of its Roman and Baroque architecture. We also experienced local flavors, as we had time to visit cafes offering rustico pastries and sweet Caffè Leccese, made with coffee, ice and almond. For the afternoon, we strolled the city of Otranto. We admired the impressive mosaic tile floors of the great Cathedral and the chapel of the 800 martyrs — a building that has served in many roles over the years, including as a horse stable for a period of time.