Colonna di Sant'Oronzo, Historic column in Piazza Sant'Oronzo, Lecce, Italy.
The Column of Sant'Oronzo rises approximately 29 meters high in the main square of Lecce, topped with a bronze statue of the patron saint blessing the city below.
Erected between 1666 and 1686 by architect Giuseppe Zimbalo, the column was built using marble blocks from ancient Roman columns that once stood at the end of Via Appia in Brindisi.
The monument represents the deep devotion of Lecce's citizens to Sant'Oronzo, their patron saint who is believed to have protected the city from the devastating plague of 1656.
The column stands in the heart of Lecce's historic center and can be easily reached on foot from the main streets, serving as a central meeting point for locals and tourists.
The original wooden statue covered in copper was replaced in 2024 with a bronze copy after extensive restoration work revealed the original was too damaged to remain outdoors.
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