Ex Conservatorio di Sant'Anna

The former Conservatory of Sant'Anna is a baroque building in Lecce with intricate architectural details such as an ornately decorated entrance and coats of arms of founding families. The interior displays grand staircases, courtyards, and rooms reflecting the structure of a noble palace.

The building began in 1679 as a private residence of the Verardi family and was converted when Bernardino Verardi offered it to women for religious contemplation. Over the centuries it became an important center for education and religious life in the city.

The building was a place where women from noble families gathered to live between prayer and learning. This blend of religious life and aristocratic refinement still shapes how the spaces feel today.

The building is located at Via Giuseppe Libertini 15 and is open to visitors wanting to see the baroque rooms. Allow time to explore the courtyards and staircases to fully appreciate the architectural details.

A centuries-old Ficus macrophylla tree grows in the building's courtyard, witnessing the long history of the place. Underground cisterns and storage rooms beneath the structure reveal how it originally functioned as a family dwelling.