San Giovanni Battista

San Giovanni Battista is a Baroque church in Lecce with a two-level facade decorated by spiral columns, pedestrian statues, and winged horse capitals at the entrance portal. The interior follows a Greek cross layout with an octagonal central zone surrounded by multiple altars and saint statues.

Dominican friars initiated construction in 1691 under architect Giuseppe Zimbalo, but the project extended until 1728 following his death in 1710. The extended building period reflected the importance this parish church held for the community at that time.

The name honors John the Baptist, the church's patron saint. Visitors can observe side chapels and altars that reflect the community's prayer life, showing how the space serves different devotional purposes.

The building welcomes visitors during set hours, with specific times varying by season. Plan a quiet visit in the early morning or late afternoon to explore the church with fewer people around.

Instead of a planned dome, wooden trusses cover the octagonal central area, an unexpected architectural solution for this layout. This choice reveals how practical constraints during the long construction period altered the original design.