Lecce Cathedral and Square, Lecce

Lecce Cathedral and Square, Lecce (must see)

A step into Cathedral Square reveals Lecce鈥檚 secret garden of carved stone and Baroque bravado鈥攈idden behind a slim passage off Libertini Street. Here, the Cathedral of the Assumption presides like a diva atop a set of cascading stairs, flanked by stout columns that guard niches boasting statues of Saints Giusto and Fortunato. Legend says Saint Orontius himself watches from his ornate arch above, forever grateful for slaying the plague rather than dragons.

This isn鈥檛 your average medieval church: since its inauguration in 1144, Lecce鈥檚 Cathedral has had two makeovers鈥攆irst in 1230, then in 1659 when Giuseppe Zimbalo supercharged it with baroque exuberance. The majesty of the edifice invites anyone to cross the threshold into a world of three naves divided by sculpted pilasters and columns, under a 1685 wooden ceiling painted by Giuseppe da Brindisi. Twelve side chapels brim with altars honoring everyone from sacrament superstars to the lives of Jesus and Mary.

Guarding the square鈥檚 flanks are three other grand players: the Bishop鈥檚 Palace, which got its stately clock and facade facelift in 1758; the soaring 230-foot bell tower, another Zimbalo marvel from 1682; and the Seminary, Giuseppe Cino鈥檚 1729 masterpiece that wraps the west side in Rococo ruffles. Together, they form Lecce鈥檚 ultimate architectural girl band鈥攅ach with its own star turn, yet perfectly in sync.

So pause beneath those sculpted ledges, let your eyes follow the soaring bell tower skyward, and picture the endless parades that once wove through this secret square. In Lecce, even the quietest corner is a stage鈥攁nd everyone gets front-row seats.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Lecce. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Lecce Cathedral and Square
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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