Palazzo del Seminario di Lecce, bâtiment à Lecce, Italie
Palazzo del Seminario di Lecce is an early 18th-century baroque palace built in the local barocco leccese style. It features a carefully decorated facade with pilasters and stonework, a quiet interior courtyard, and multiple rooms that now house the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art displaying paintings, sculptures, and liturgical objects.
Construction of the palace began in 1694 following designs by Giuseppe Cino and was completed in 1709. Around 1729, Bishop Fabrizio Pignatelli added an upper floor to expand the building for growing seminary needs.
The palace served as a training center for priests and continues to hold religious significance for the city today. The artworks and sacred objects displayed reveal how faith has been central to Lecce's community life and identity over centuries.
The palace sits on Piazza Duomo in the center of Lecce and is easily reached on foot. Bus lines 106 and 108 stop nearby at Porta Rudiae station, and a visit typically takes about an hour and a half to see the main rooms, art displays, and courtyard.
In the interior courtyard stands the Pozzo della Vera Ovale, a well with rich decorative forms and carvings that showcase the craftsmanship of the barocco leccese period. This hidden well is often overlooked despite being one of the most intricately worked features in the palace.
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