Lecce is called "La Firenze del Sud" (The Florence of the South) because of the quantity of important Baroque monuments found there. The area where Lecce is located is called Salento, another important nearby town being Otranto. It is an important agricultural and industrial centre (oil, wine, ceramic production). The so-called "Lecce stone" is the city's main export. It is very soft and malleable, making it a renowned subject for sculpture.
