Portico dei Templari

The Portico dei Templari is a medieval loggia in Piazza Duomo featuring two pointed Gothic arches carved from local carparo stone. A Greek marble column with wavy carved details stands between the arches and provides structural support for the upper section.

The structure was built in the 12th or 13th century as part of an archbishop's palace and was later owned by the De Cateniano family. In the 16th century it was transferred to the civic hospital, where it served different purposes over time.

The building serves as the entrance to the Ribezzo Museum, housing medieval artifacts including a large stone sarcophagus beneath its cross-vaulted ceiling.

The structure is located in the heart of Brindisi's historic center, just steps away from the Cathedral and easy to find. You can view the portico from the public square without needing to enter any building or pay an entry fee.

Despite its name suggesting connections to the Knights Templar, it was actually part of the city's first medieval archbishop's residence. This confusion arose because the structure was misidentified for centuries until historians clarified its true origin.