San Matteo, Baroque Catholic church in central Lecce, Italy
San Matteo is a Baroque church at the heart of Lecce featuring a distinctive curved facade crowned by two towers decorated with architectural details. Inside, an elliptical nave houses side chapels, and a wooden organ crafted by Carlo Sanarica in 1735 occupies a prominent position above the choir area.
Construction began in 1667 under Bishop Luigi Pappacoda's direction, with architect Giovanni Andrea Larducci designing it as a replacement for a fifteenth-century building. This project was part of a broader movement to reshape the city's appearance during the Baroque period.
Twelve Apostle statues carved by Placido Buffeli in 1692 line the walls between the side chapels, reflecting the local artistic skill and religious devotion that shaped this place. These sculptures remain focal points for those who enter and pray within its walls.
The church sits at Via dei Perroni 29 in Lecce's old town, accessible through several narrow passages branching from Porta San Biagio. It is best explored on foot while walking through the winding streets of the historic center.
A wooden choir stall decorated with plant carvings and shells supports the organ work built by Carlo Sanarica in 1735. This combination of hand-carved ornamentation and sound-producing pipes is an uncommon feature in Baroque churches of this region.
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