Michele's place is one of the most special B&Bs we've ever stayed in. The accommodation is eccentric and utterly charming and is situated in a beautiful old palazzo that belongs to his family. It has a perfect location : it's very well positioned in the town and the balcony of our bedroom looked onto a magnificent baroque church. Michele was very easy to communicate with, he gave us very detailed directions via sms and was waiting for us outside the B&B when we arrived - this in order to open the glorious old wooden doors of the palazzo so that we could park inside very conveniently. It's a tight squeeze, but then so are the narrow streets, so choose a smallish car if you're renting. Il Banano (named after the giant banana plants in the courtyard) offers just two rooms for guests on the first floor, up some lovely old marble stairs and past a very fine upper courtyard - well, our room was actually a suite and it was huge, the bedroom was big enough to throw a party and then there was another slightly smaller but still very spacious room beyond it, and then, somewhat incongruously given the size of everything else, a tiny bathroom. Nevertheless everything was spotlessly clean and fresh and very comfortable, with practical things like a fan for the heat and a little fridge, and we loved the gleaming old terrazzo floors and the high airy vaulted ceilings and the french doors leading out to the balcony with the view of the street and the church. The antique furniture is authentic and tasteful, and the whole experience of being in such a gracious and unique place is really special. Michele served us a delicious and very substantial breakfast - fresh fruit, pastries, and very good coffee - in the very simply but beautifully furnished dining room next to the equally charming sitting area, both of which are available to guests. Michele is very kind and generous, and really went the extra mile for us whenever we needed help, provided us with a list of places to visit and a great map, and altogether made us feel very much at home. Our stay at Il Banano made our visit to Lecce unforgettable. If you want to experience something incredibly rare and authentic, and are looking for a great base to explore Lecce and the surrounding areas, then I highly recommend booking at Michele's place.