Buying a house in Italy – taxes to pay, fiscal aspects

When you have to buy a house, you must keep in mind certain tax aspects. Let’s see what they are depending on whether you buy a house from a construction company or an individual. As noted by the National Council of Notaries, the purchase and sale of construction or renovation companies, except in special cases, are subject to VAT, which is paid directly to the seller. The VAT rate to be applied on the sale price will be: Equal to 10% in the absence of first housing benefits; Equals 4% if first home benefits are requested. The same tax treatment is applied to the allocation of housing to members of a housing construction co-operative. In the case of a purchase subject to VAT, the following taxes will also be paid to the notary, who will then pay it to the Tax Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate): Registration fee: 200 euros. Mortgage tax: 200 euros. Cadastral tax: 200 euros. If, on the other hand, you buy a house from individuals, the registration, mortgage and registration taxes are paid by the buyer to the notary who will in turn pay them to the Tax Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) during your registration. In the absence of facilitations: Registration fee: 9%. Mortgage tax: 50 euros. Cadastral tax: 50 euros. Rates are normally applied to the stated selling price; in the case of transfer of residential properties to natural persons, the buyer may request payment of the registration tax on the “cadastral value” (value-price) of the property (i.e. the resulting value of the multiplication of cadastral income for the legal coefficient, which is 115.5), regardless of the actual amount of the sale price, even if it is higher than this value. The minimum tax is always € 1,000. In the presence of subsidies for the purchase of the first residential house: Registration fee: 2%. Mortgage tax: 50 euros. Cadastral tax: 50 euros. Rates are normally applied to the stated selling price; in case of transfer of residential properties to natural persons, the buyer may request the payment of the registration fee (imposta di registro) on the “cadastral value” (value-price) of the property (i.e. the resulting value of the multiplication of cadastral income for the legal coefficient, which is 115.5), regardless of the actual amount of the sale price, even if it is greater than this value. The minimum tax is always € 1,000.

Veneto is the most visited region in Italy, thanks to the sea

Veneto in the European top 10 with nearly 18 million Italian and foreign visitors in 2016 Sea, Dolomites and Venice: it is the triptych that makes Veneto the most visited Italian region, the only one of the top ten in Europe. On the one hand, there is the coast of the province of Venice, from Bibione to Rosolina, through the large number of pearls like Jesolo Lido and Caorle: miles of beaches that have nothing to envy to those of Emilia Romagna, which are traditional destinations of Austrians and Germans, who start to frequent them from May. On the other hand there are the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the “pearl” Cortina d’Ampezzo and mountains like the Crystal, the Marmolada or the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, chosen by a growing number of foreigners for hiking and walk in the woods. From the ‘jewel’ Venice to the Prosecco hills In the middle there are villages and cities, starting from Venice, which alone is worth more than 20 million presences, which occupy all the year the hotels between the streets and San Marco then go all the way to Murano, Burano and the other islands of the lagoon. But then, they move to see Giotto’s works in Padua, Palladio’s work in Vicenza or to touch Juliet’s boob in Verona, a classic lucky ritual that is repeated every year by thousands of people who visit the city by reliving the emotions of Shakespeare’s work, and perhaps by watching that represented at the Arena. At the gates of Verona, in recent years, tourism is growing on Lake Garda, where more and more visitors arrive each year. Then there is the thermal tourism, with places like Abano and Montegrotto, near Padua, and the gastronomic and oenological tourism, wooed by the Prosecco boom, whose hills have recently been nominated World Heritage by Unesco. In 2016, record number of tourists On the other hand, in 2016, there was the record number of tourists: arrivals were 17,856,567 (+ 3.5%), with foreigners 11,525,916 (+ 2.8%) and Italians (6,330,651 + 4, 7%); total attendance 65,392,328 (+ 3.4%), with 43,961,624 foreigners (+ 4.1%) and 21,430,704 Italians (+ 1.8%). If we look at the turnover, tourism is the most important industry in Veneto, with revenues exceeding $ 17 billion. Figures that could be retouched, again, up: on the beaches, indeed, summer started right and June also saw double-digit increases in different places. And if during the winter the snow did not help the skiers, no less people went to Cortina or the other Dolomites, thanks to the massive investments of the last years for the artificial snowing of the slopes, which fall between breath-taking views. A unique scenario, to the point that the Tre Cime area was chosen for certain filming of the new movie Star Wars, the eighth of the saga: tourism in Veneto, it should be said, is spatial. Italian Veneto in the top 10 most visited regions of the EU Spain, France and Italy are the favorite destinations for European tourists, but only one Italian region – Veneto – falls in the “top ten” of the European Union, according to data published by Eurostats for the number of nights spent for tourism in 2015. In the ranking of the ten most popular destinations, the Canary Islands in Spain are clearly ahead with 94 million nights in 2015. Spain is the country with more regions in the ‘top ten’ with 75.5 million nights for Catalonia, 65.2 million for the Balearic Islands and 61.4 million for Andalusia. France has three regions among the ten most popular with Paris and Ile de France (76.8 million nights, second in the EU), Provence-Côte d’Azur (54.6 million) and Rhône-Alpes ( 48.7 million). Croatia ranks fourth in the EU (68.1 million nights), while Veneto is the only Italian region in the top ten, finishing in sixth place with 63.3 million nights. Six Italian regions in the Top 30 However, if you consider the 30 favorite destinations in the EU, Italy is tied with Spain and France with six regions in the ranking: Veneto, Tuscany, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio and the autonomous province of Bolzano. The southern regions are absent: according to Eurostat, in 2015, 58% of Europeans spent their holidays in their own country, 26% in another EU Member State. Only 16% of overnight stays were spent in non-EU destinations, with the United States being much more popular (13.8% of overnight stays by EU residents in the rest of the world), followed by Turkey (10%). 4%) and Morocco (4.6%).

Municipal taxes in Italy for 2018: Imu, Tasi, Tari

Imu, Tari and Tasi: tell me in which region you live and I will tell you how much they cost you Municipal taxes are important in Italy, although cheaper than property taxes and housing taxes in France. In particular, in Liguria. And the most important tax is Imu, with an average cost of 197 euros. However, the waste tax and the Tasi, communal tax on integrated services, are no less important. According to the data prepared by Adnkronos and contained in the tables distributed by the Ministry of Finance, during a parliamentary hearing on the fiscal capacity of local authorities for next year, in 2018, the Ligurians will pay on average 703 euros. Taxpayers who live in Calabria will pay less than half: 298 euros. In 2018, Italian taxpayers will pay an average of 489 euros of municipal taxes, but with significant differences depending on their place of residence. After the Ligurians, to pay the highest local taxes will be those who live in Lazio (596 euros) and in Tuscany (581 euros). Whereas, after Calabria, the least taxed will be the inhabitants of Basilicata (310 Euro) and Molise (354 Euros). Above the national average: Emilia Romagna (570 euros), Piedmont (500 euros), Lombardy (498 euros). Below the average: Veneto (479 euros), Umbria (464 euros), Abruzzo (451 euros), Marche (429 euros), Apulia (389 euros), Campania (377 euros). The cost of Imu Imu is the most important tax, with an average cost of 197 euros. The highest peak is in Liguria, where it reaches 362 euros, and the lowest in Basilicata, where it stops at 108 euros. Then there are Tuscany (236 euros), Emilia Romagna (234 euros), the action (232 euros), Piedmont (212 euros), Lombardy (200 euros), Veneto Abruzzo (€ 181), Marche (€ 170), Umbria (€ 168), Molise (€ 159), Apulia (€ 158), Campania (€ 131) and Calabria (€ 115). How much cost waste disposal (Tari) Waste costs an average of 122 euros. Tuscany (€ 161), Lazio (€ 154), Campania (€ 142), Emilia Romagna (€ 139), Abruzzo (€ 135), Umbria 136 euros)), Liguria (134 euros). Below the national average, Puglia (€ 119), Marche (€ 109), Piedmont (€ 105), Veneto (€ 102), Basilicata (€ 97), Calabria euros). The weight of Tasi The Tasi weighs on average 35 euros. There is Liguria (56 euros), then – above the national average – Emilia Romagna (43 euros), Tuscany (40 euros), Lombardy (39 euros), Lazio (39 euros), Piedmont (38 euros), Veneto (36 euros). You pay less than the national average in Umbria (31 euros), Abruzzo (31 euros), Marche (29 euros), Molise (28 euros), Apulia (25 euros), Campania Calabria.

The deep evolution of the Italian real estate market

  Housing is no longer a safe haven for the younger generations The brick no longer seems to be the safe investment property, especially for the younger generation. The purchase of the house no longer seems to be a priority, due to the economic conditions that have changed for the so-called millenials, generations roughly 25 to 40 years, poorer than previous generations. That’s mainly due to a change in lifestyle or because of the economic crisis that remains. The sharing economy , environmental sustainability, job insecurity have profoundly changed the issue. Now a home must be technologically advanced, safe, designed for energy efficiency and the use of natural materials, or otherwise promoting the health of its occupants. It is necessary to start designing the houses, taking into account the location and the correct orientation, the waterproofing of the building, but also the ventilation control, with renewable energy equipment and systems. “Today, you are asking for a connected, efficient, healthy home,” says Gaetano Courage, general manager of Paspartu, a company specializing in the restructuring of homes and buildings. “Our homes look more like a car, customizable, and re-examined over the years, to maintain performance. The imperative is to point towards urban regeneration “. Economic conditions for the construction of houses more unfavorable than in France The precariousness of work, the fact that there are fewer and fewer steady jons, also means that young couples rarely want to engage in a project to build a new house. The number of children per couple has also decreased significantly compared to the last century, which increases the demand for small-scale housing. Italy’s residential market is quite different from that of France for a rather simple reason: France counts 67 million inhabitants on a territory of about 513 000 km². Italy counts 63 million on a territory of approximately 310 000 km². Except that Italy is constituted by a good half of mountains, lakes, almost desert and uninhabitable areas. It can therefore be considered that its real population density is three times greater than that of France. Buildable land is more difficult to find, and, on average, much more expensive to buy. This is what guarantees a stability of the prices of the Italian real estate market, despite any economic crisis. It is a sort of floor, below which it really takes a major economic catastrophe in order for prices to go down. At present, I think that the Italian real estate market has hit the bottom, an opinion that seems to be corroborated by prices that have stabilized over the past few months and are even starting to rise slowly. Let’s combine that with a real estate stock that by more than 62% dates before 1990, and we will understand the importance of restructuring and restoring existing houses and apartments.

Tax deductions for the renovation of buildings

Tax deductions for the house The table summarizes the tax deductions – valid for 2017 – for the renovation of buildings, the purchase of furniture, energy savings and anti-seismic measures as foreseen on the basis of the budget law which has just been published in the Official Journal. Here are all tax deductions for the house valid in Italy for 2017, and probably far beyond CONSTRUCTION REDUCTION (Deduction of income tax) – For individual residential property units: extraordinary maintenance, preservation and restoration, renovation of buildings – For common areas of residential buildings: routine maintenance, extraordinary maintenance, preservation and restoration, renovation of buildings – The construction of garages or parking places, the elimination of architectural barriers, the sanitation of asbestos, works to prevent domestic accidents, measures to prevent illegal acts, etc., wiring of buildings. Maximum amount of expenditure for the calculation of the deduction – from 26.6.2012 to 31.12.2017 = 96,000 € – dall’1.1.2018 = 48,000 € The measurement of the deduction (gross tax) – from 26.6.2012 to 31.12.2017 = 50%, in ten annual installments – dall’1.1.2018 = 36%, in ten annual installments Accessories and Furniture and Major Appliances (Deduction of Income Tax) Purpose of the Fund – Purchase of furniture and “major household appliances” (eg refrigerators and dishwashers.) At least A + (A for ovens), for equipment for which the energy label is intended, finalized to the furnishing of the building under renovation. Maximum amount of expenditure for the calculation of the deduction (A) from 06.06.2013 to 31.12.2017 = EUR 10 000 (the costs covered by this measure are calculated for the enjoyment of the tax deduction, irrespective of the amount of expenditure incurred for renovation work benefiting from the deductions from income tax) (B) from 1.1.2016 to 31.12.2016 = EUR 16 000 of expenditure documented for the purchase of furniture and furniture for the main residence for young couples (forming a married or cohabiting fcouple as husband and wife, at least three years, in which one of the two did not exceed 35 years) purchasers of real estate units to use as their principal residence “. This benefit may not be combined with the measure referred to in paragraph (a). Measurement of the deduction (gross tax) – from 06.06.2013 to 31.12.2016 = 50%, in 10 annual installments – from 1.1.2016 until 31.12.2016 = (young couples for furniture purchase) 50%, in 10 annual installments – from 1.1.2017 until 31.12.2017 = 50% of the costs referred to in point (a) in 10 annual installments incurred in the year 2017 limited to the resumption of housing in the year 2016 or has started in 2016 and will continue in 2017 Measures for energy saving (Income tax deduction / IRES) Purpose of the Fund – Interventions aimed at the rehabilitation of buildings – from 1.1.2016 are also deductible expenses incurred for the purchase, installation and implementation of multimedia devices for the remote control of heating or hot water or air conditioning housing units,  and tools to increase awareness of energy consumption by users and to ensure efficient operation. Maximum amount of deduction – from 06.06.2013 to 31.12.2017 = interventions to reduce the energy requirements of existing buildings: 100,000 euros; Interventions on walls, windows (including frames) on existing buildings: 60,000 euros; Installation of solar panels: EUR 60 000; Replacement of winter heating systems: EUR 30 000 – from 1.1.2018 apply the rules and limits of interventions related to the renovation of buildings The measurement of the deduction (gross tax) – from 06.06.2013 to 31.12.2017 = 65%, in 10 annual installments – dall’1.1.2018 = 36%, in 10 annual installments Particularly important energy saving measures (Income Tax Deduction / IRES) Purpose of the Fund – energy-saving measures with respect to the common parts of condominiums under sections 1117 (condominium) and 1117-one (super condominium) of the Civil Code or affecting all the units that make up the individual condo Maximum amount of deduction – from 06/06/2013 to 31/12/2021 = interventions to reduce the energy requirements of existing buildings: 100,000 euros; Interventions on walls, windows (including frames) on existing buildings: 60,000 euros; Installation of solar panels: EUR 60 000; Replacement of winter heating systems: 30,000 – From 1.1.2022 apply the rules and limits of interventions related to the renovation of buildings The measurement of the deduction (gross tax) – from 06.06.2013 to 31.12.2016 = 65%, in 10 annual installments – dall’1.1.2017 = 36%, in 10 annual installments Claims assigned to suppliers For expenses incurred in the redevelopment of the common areas of condominiums, the persons who are in the “no tax zone” (retired, employed and self-employed), instead of the deduction Of the gross tax may be used to transfer the credit corresponding to the suppliers who carried out the work. PARTICULAR MEASURES TO SAVE ENERGY ON PARTS OF COMMON COMMODITIES (Income Tax Deduction / IRES) Purpose of the Fund (A) improving the energy efficiency of interventions in common areas of dwelling units that affect the building envelope with an incidence greater than 25% of the gross area of ​​the building of the same dispersant (B) improvement of energy efficiency measures for common areas of dwelling units designed to improve the winter of energy performance and in summer and with the least average quality referred to in D. Mr. Ministère du Développement économique 26.6.’15 Maximum amount of expenditure for the calculation of the deduction – Dall’1.1.2017 until 31/12/2021 = 40 000 € multiplied by the number of building units that make up the building – From 1.1.2022 apply the rules and limits of interventions related to the renovation of buildings The measurement of the deduction (gross tax) – From 1.1.2017 until 31/12/2021 = 70%, for the expenditure referred to in point (a), in 10 annual installments – From 1.1.2017 until 31/12/2021 = 75% of the expenditure referred to in point (b), in 10 annual installments – dall’1.1.2022 = 36%, in 10 annual installments Oath The existence of the conditions set out in (a) and (b) shall be subject to oath by qualified professionals through certification of the energy performance of

Rental income tax – a more favorable rate applies from 2016 on

In the STABILITY LAW 2016, a new Flat-Rate Tax Scheme favors landlords The flat-rate tax scheme, first introduced into the Italian tax system by Stability Law 2015, has been modified and made more practical and favourable in the 2016 Stability Law. The government’s aims for introducing the flat-rate tax scheme are to boost employment, steer Italy’s economic recovery in a positive direction, reduce undeclared taxable income and employment irregularities. The reformed tax scheme applies to individuals operating in what are classified as, ‘the arts and independent professional activities’ sector. This includes individuals generating income from the rental of investment properties and second homes. The reformed tax scheme: Establishes a tax replacing Irpef, Irap and additional taxes of 5% for the first 5 years and of 15% from the sixth year onwards: neither VAT nor other taxes are due.  Represents an opportunity to regularize compliance on any activity that has not previously been declared to the Italian Tax Authority. Foreign property owners may not realize that they need to declare this type of income, even if it is seasonal and infrequent. Owners may be subject to heavy penalties in case of an audit by the Italian tax authority. Taxable income in the flat rate – tax scheme is determined by applying profitability coefficients. These codes vary according to business activity. Accommodation, lodging, lettings and B&B activities are determined by applying a profitability coefficient of 40% of revenues. Let’s make an example: Mr. Smith owns a property in Puglia and decides to start running a (seasonal) business by renting out the property for holiday letting. Mr. Smith decides to apply for the flat rate-tax. Taxable income : Euro 16.000 (coefficient of profitability 40% of 40.000) Tax to pay: 800 (tax rate 5% of 16.000). With the ordinary tax scheme Mr. Smith would pay approximately Euro 4.300 on the same profit. And he would pay much more if eligeable costs to offset generate a higher profit. As an example, if the annual revenue are Euro 40.000 and the deductible cost are 15.000, the taxable profit will be Euro 25.000 and the taxation will be around Euro 6.500. As you can see from the example above, in the “5% tax scheme” for the purposes of calculating income tax, expenses are not included – the basis for the calculation of taxable income is exclusively based on revenue. Only social security contributions (INPS) can be deducted from revenues; it is worth a reminder here that any Italian resident taking advantage of the flat-rate scheme, must have social security cover. Social security contributions are calculated as a percentage of revenues, a reduction of up to 35% of contributions is available. Up to a profit of 14.000 euros the social security contribution is fixed at approximately Euro 1900. Looking at the example above – where the maximum profit is 16.000 – the social security/insurance contribution costs will be 1900 + 20% * 2000 = 2.700. These money will not be lost; after 5 years of contribution you will accrue a (small) pension. An Individual planning to start-up a business activity in Italy qualifies for the flat-tax scheme, provided that the individual has not (officially) carried out the same activity in the past three years and that revenues will not exceed €40.000 per annum. Foreign residents and non-residents, who generate an income from letting their property in Italy, wishing to benefit from the flat-tax scheme, must notify the Italian tax authorities through a Notice of Business Start-Up. If you need help to understand your personal situation, please contact me or seek advice from a qualified accountant registered with the ODCEC, the Italian professional accounting association of certified public accountants, auditors and advisors.

National Geographic Traveler Magazine

National Geographic Traveler Magazine Announces Its 2014 Best of the World List Features the 21 Best Trips to Take in 2014 November 21, 2013 Limestone dwellings, or trulli, in Puglia, Italy WASHINGTON (Nov. 21, 2013)—National Geographic Traveler magazine today announced its annual Best of the World list, featuring 20 destinations plus a bonus readers’ choice destination to visit in 2014. The list reflects what’s authentic, culturally rich, sustainable and superlative in the world of travel today. The destinations are featured in the December 2013/January 2014 issue of Traveler magazine, available on newsstands Dec. 3, and online at travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-2014/. “Our annual Best of the World list doesn’t reflect hot spots drawn from celebrity sightings or travel statistics,” said Keith Bellows, editor in chief of National Geographic Traveler magazine. “It reflects the expertise and experience of National Geographic Travel’s huge network of global travel experts. If you want to explore places worth visiting now, this is a great place to start.” The destinations featured in the 2014 Best of the World list are (in alphabetical order): Alentejo, Portugal Arbil, Iraq Bolaven Plateau, Laos Cacao Trail, Ecuador Cape Verde Cathar Country, France Córdoba, Argentina Derawan Islands, Indonesia (readers’ choice) Guyana John Muir Trail, Scotland Liechtenstein Nahanni National Park, Canada New Orleans, Louisiana Northern Territory, Australia Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda Puglia, Italy Ranthambore National Park, India Riga, Latvia Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Sochi, Russia National Geographic Traveler magazine’s global community of writers, editors and explorers selected 20 of the destinations, and for the first time a readers’ choice submission was also included. To see photographs and learn more about each destination, visittravel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-2014/. Press images are available at the FTP site:http://press.nationalgeographic.com/downloads/Megan H/2014_Best_of_the_World username:  press | password:  press About National Geographic Travel National Geographic Travel is the travel arm of the National Geographic Society, one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, founded in 1888. National Geographic Travel creates meaningful and engaging travel content and experiences through National Geographic Traveler magazine; National Geographic Expeditions; travel books; maps; apps; digital media; and travel photography programs. National Geographic Traveler (eight issues per year) is the world’s most widely read travel magazine and has 14 international editions. It is available by subscription, on newsstands in the United States and Canada, and digitally for tablets. National Geographic Expeditions, the travel program of the Society, offers a variety of unique travel experiences led by top experts to more than 60 destinations across all seven continents. Travel opportunities include family and student expeditions, active adventures, private jet trips and voyages on the six expedition ships in the National Geographic-Lindblad fleet, as well as photography workshops, expeditions and seminars. The National Geographic Travel digital group offers inspiring and authoritative digital travel and adventure content such as trip ideas, photo galleries, blogs and apps. National Geographic Travel Books bring readers curated travel advice and inspiration. Follow National Geographic Travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Why Puglia trumps Tuscany — and where to buy

Why Puglia trumps Tuscany — and where to buy Italy’s sun-drenched heel is cheaper, warmer and less touristy than the traditional favourite, with turquoise waters and a hint of Greece about it Liz Rowlinson Published: 1 June 2014 Comment (0) Print Puglia, Italy’s sun-drenched heel, has long been a well-kept secret. Jutting into the translucent turquoise waters of the Adriatic and Ionian seas, it is a region of breathtaking seascapes and silvery carpets of olive groves, of whitewashed hilltop towns and locals hawking plump vine-ripened tomatoes and homemade olive oil in the noisy bustle of the weekly markets.

The New York Times about Lecce, south Italy

By SETH SHERWOOD AUGUST 8, 2013 Thanks to dozens of mostly Baroque-era churches packing its maze of narrow streets, Lecce, the “Florence of the South,” dazzles with elaborately carved facades and interiors that erupt with symphonies of angels, cherubs, saints, saviors and Madonnas. But this small gem in Italy’s heel is far from a haven of monkish abstemiousness. A capital of southern Italian cooking, the city brims with rustic restaurants serving the hearty peasant cuisine and robust red wines of the Puglia (Apulia in English) region. Throw in a buzzing bar scene and nearby beaches of sun-bronzed bodies and you have a city fit for holy men and hedonists alike. FRIDAY 5 p.m. 1. History and Coffee During the Roman era, some 20,000 spectators would fill the stone seats of the arcaded amphitheater in what is now Piazza Sant’Oronzo. Today the locals tend to congregate on the lively outdoor terrace of Caffè Alvino on the Piazza Sant’Oronzo, which sits alongside the partly excavated ruins and other landmarks from Lecce’s past. Sit back, order a Lecce specialty called caffè in ghiaccio con latte di mandorla (espresso with ice and almond milk) and admire the majestic stone Sedile — a former town hall and armory built in the late 16th century — and the soaring stone pillar topped by a statue of the city’s patron saint, St. Oronzo, from the Baroque period. Slide Show | Scenes From Italy’s Heel Take a stroll around Lecce, a historical town in the Puglia region. 7 p.m. 2. Champion Chiselers No, you’re not hallucinating. With the frenzied crowdedness of a Hieronymus Bosch painting and the intensity of a fever dream, the colonnaded, multitiered and ornately sculptured exterior of Basilica di Santa Croce on Via Umberto, just north of Piazza Sant’Oronzo, bursts exuberantly with hundreds of finely detailed forms. Pacing lions, howling dragons, cross-bearing angels, undersea creatures, turbaned Turks, topless women, urns, scrolls, shells, birds, horses, heralds, shells and flowers fill the facade of Lecce’s iconic church, completed in 1695 after work by three generations of architects and artisans. 8 p.m. 3. Salt of the Earth Trattoria di Nonna Tetti restaurant on the Piazzetta Regina Maria keeps things simple. The décor is a humble amalgam of rough stone, tiles and wood. The culinary components are equally rustic, as befits a restaurant specializing in cucina povera, the “poor people’s food” that has traditionally made up the local diet and is now gaining favor among foodies for its authentic salt-of-the-earth flavors and healthy Mediterranean ingredients. Representatives include fava beans in oil with chicory and a gooey, crunchy, starchy, garlicky gut-filler called ciceri e tria, which blends fried and boiled pasta and cooked chickpeas. Italian classics round out the menu, from caprese and mozzarella antipasti to a spongy tiramisù. A meal for two, without wine, costs around 50 euros, or $65 at $1.30 to the euro. THE NEW YORK TIMES 10 p.m. 4. Start Your Wining Wine bars have sprouted in bunches on Via Umberto I, north of the Basilica di Santa Croce. As night falls, grad student types and young professionals fill their stone-vaulted interiors and spill onto crowded sidewalk tables. Decorated with books, artworks and shelves of wine bottles, boho-cool Vineria Santa Cruz has a lengthy wine list that includes a regional primitivo (similar to zinfandel) from the Tenute di Eméra winery that’s deep, dark, dry and tannic (5 euros a glass). Nearby at Shui, the buttery-yellow paint job and suspended contemporary lighting create a medieval-modern ambience in the stone chapel-like interior. Salice from the Cantele winery (4 euros a glass), made from the negroamaro grape, is acidic and juicy. SATURDAY 10 a.m. 5. Go for Baroque No street in Lecce oozes Baroque extravagance like Via Libertini. Enter the southwestern gate to the city’s historic core, the 18th-century Porta Rudiae, and pop into the Basilica di San Giovanni Battista. Completed in 1728, the church is a soaring, light-flooded expanse ringed by high windows and packed with stunningly detailed carvings of cherubs, wreaths and more. The richly decorated pulpit is flanked by twisting spiral columns and chiseled scenes of the Apocalypse. Farther up Via Libertini on the same side, the 17th-century Chiesa di Santa Teresa has a restrained neo-Classical facade and an interior containing macabre artworks, from an emaciated statue of Jesus writhing in a glass-box coffin to a painting of Salome with the head of St. John. The stunning finale appears in Piazza del Duomo. Alongside a tall, tapering bell tower, the city’s 17th-century cathedral (cattedraledilecce.it) is another highly chiseled edifice that houses stained-glass windows, a coffered wood-and-gilt ceiling and a Greek marble altar decorated with lapis lazuli. Noon 6. Deli Cafe by the Duomo Tucked next to Piazza del Duomo, Doppiozero is a hip, modern, delicatessen-style restaurant amid the time-fissured buildings. Under a jazzy soundtrack, convivial groups fill long communal tables illuminated by abstract arty lamps made from half-melted glass bottles. One wall is stacked with pastas, olive oils and wines for takeout; the other is lined by a deli counter showcasing fresh cheeses (Gorgonzola, pecorino, scimudin) and cured meats (salami, speck and coppa) that get sliced into made-to-order combo platters. Also worthwhile are the bite-size meatballs in zesty tomato-onion sauce and the roast beef crostini with horseradish mayonnaise. Lunch for two is 30 to 40 euros. 2 p.m. 7. The Big Sleep Lecce residents love their siesta, and from 2 to 5 p.m., shops close, squares empty and the great snooze ensues. Don’t succumb. Across from the entrance to the 16th-century Castello di Carlo V, catch the No. 32 bus at 2 p.m. sharp (it runs infrequently; 39-0832-340-898) and get off in the seaside town of San Cataldo, about six miles away. South from the lighthouse, the palm-lined boardwalk overlooks craggy promontories and sandy beaches of bright green-blue water that make scenic spots for a stroll, picnic, tryst, tan or splash. 6 p.m. 8. Retail Revival Footsteps and voices return to Lecce’s streets and shops at the end of the afternoon. Boutiques for local goods beckon near