Porta Napoli (Naples Gate), Lecce

They call it the Naples Gate, but locals consider it the Arch of Triumph鈥攖he ultimate starting line for your Baroque adventure through Lecce鈥檚 maze of alleys and plazas. Built in 1548 by the celebrated Gian Giacomo鈥攁 military engineer and architect best known for fortifying southern Italy against Ottoman attacks. This 66-foot-tall triumphal gateway was Charles V鈥檚 way of high-fiving his own greatness after booting the Turks back east. With two Corinthian pillars flexing support under a giant triangular pediment, it鈥檚 decked out in carvings of armor, weapons, and the Habsburg-Spanish coat of arms鈥攂ecause what鈥檚 a victory arch without a little coat-of-arms flex?

Stroll to the far end of Arch of Triumph Square and you鈥檒l meet its long-lost cousin: the Obelisk of Ferdinand I, planted in 1922 to honor the King of the Two Sicilies. Its sides sport bas-reliefs of mythic beasts鈥攖hink a moon-munching dolphin鈥攖hat prove Lecce has been mixing history and a dash of whimsy for centuries.

So, if you're in the neighborhood, don't be shy 鈥� let the arch embrace you, strike your best Imperial pose, and may Lecce鈥檚 golden stones escort you on a journey where every corner holds a story.

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: Porta Napoli (Naples Gate)
Sight Location: Lecce, Italy (See walking tours in Lecce)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Lecce Introduction Walking Tour

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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