Lecce Cathedral, Cathedral in Lecce, Italy
Lecce Cathedral is a baroque church in the old town of Lecce, crowned by a tall bell tower that rises above the surrounding rooftops. Inside, three naves run parallel, divided by slender pilasters and decorated with stucco details and painted panels overhead.
A church already stood on this spot in the 12th century, but a major rebuilding took place during the mid-17th century under local architect Giuseppe Zimbalo. Some Romanesque elements survived the transformation and were incorporated into the new baroque layout.
Families from the surrounding streets often stop by to light candles at one of the side altars dedicated to local saints or biblical figures. Each chapel carries its own name and devotion, reflecting the personal ties residents maintain with different parts of the building.
You can enter through the northern facade with its tall columns or use the western door for a more direct approach. On clear days, climbing the bell tower rewards you with views that stretch toward the coast and sometimes beyond.
The wooden ceiling above the main nave holds more than 1600 individual coffers, each containing a small painting. These panels tell episodes from the life of Saint Orontius, the city's patron, in a continuous visual sequence overhead.
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