Chiesa di San Matteo (Church of Saint Mathew), Lecce

Imagine stepping into a Baroque time machine and landing in Lecce circa 1700鈥攚elcome to the Church of Saint Matthew, brainchild of Achille Larducci di Salo, nephew to Rome鈥檚 own star architect Borromini. In 1667, Bishop Luigi Pappacoda ceremoniously plopped down the first stone, replacing a humble 15th-century chapel. By 1700, Larducci鈥檚 vision had sprung into glorious reality.

Outside, the fa莽ade plays 鈥渃oncave above, convex below鈥� in stunning limestone choreography. The lower register flaunts three sections framed by beefy columns and an ornate main portal crowned with the Franciscan coat of arms. Above, a grand three-part doorway stretches between sculpted columns and niches, all finished with a curving overhang and a tall triangular top that seems to nod hello as you walk by.

Slip inside, and you鈥檒l find a single, sweeping nave traced in an elegant ellipse. Pilasters, each based on a plinth, salute the Twelve Apostles while the left side parades five jeweled altars honoring Saints Agatha, Francis, Rita, the Virgin, and the Piet脿. Opposite them stand four more shrines鈥擬adonna of the Light, Saint Anne, the Holy Family, and Saint Orontius鈥攂eneath a star-studded vault that feels straight out of a celestial blueprint. In Lecce, even a church floor plan is fit for Baroque stardom鈥攖his is Saint Matthew鈥檚 grand stage.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Chiesa di San Matteo (Church of Saint Mathew)
Sight Location: Lecce, Italy (See walking tours in Lecce)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Lecce, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Lecce

Creating your own self-guided walk in Lecce is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Lecce's Baroque Churches Walking Tour

Lecce isn鈥檛 shy about its reputation鈥攊t鈥檚 often called the 鈥淐apital of Baroque,鈥� and one stroll through the old town makes it clear why. This southern Italian city turned its soft local limestone, Lecce stone, into an architect鈥檚 playground. Elaborate fa莽ades, swirling details, and sculptures bursting from the walls made the 17th century feel like one long design competition. And with... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

Lecce Introduction Walking Tour

German historian Ferdinand Gregorovius called Lecce 鈥渢he Florence of the Baroque era.鈥� The city traces its beginnings around the time of the Trojan Wars, which took place around the 11th century BC. However, it first steps firmly into the record in the 3rd century BC as Lupiae under Roman control. The name is thought to come from lupus, the Latin word for wolf, recalling the animals that once... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

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