Duomo dell'Assunzione della Vergine / Cathedral of the Assumption of Virgin Mary (Lecce, Apulia, Italy) - Baroque Architecture on Waymarking.com

The Cathedral of Lecce (Duomo di Lecce; Duomo dell'Assunzione della Vergine), located on the square bearing the same name, is the fulcrum of the religious life of Lecce. The Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of Virgin Mary, was built in 1144 and then in 1230 firstly rebuilt. The Cathedral definitely changed look after cardinal Baroque rebuilding in 1659, which was work of architect Giuseppe Zimbalo.

The Cathedral has two entrances, the principal is on the left side of the church and the second on the square. The main façade is sober and elegant, the second entrance is a masterpiece of Baroque art with a statue representing St. Oronzo at the centre and at his sides St Giusto and St. Fortunato. The church has a Latin cross plan with the interior space organized with a nave and two aisles, separated by pillars and semi columns. The central nave and the transept are covered by a wood roof in which there are mounted painting representing the Martyr of St. Oronzo and the Last supper. This Cathedral has twelve altars. In the square where the Cathedral is there are other monuments too: the bell tower, the bishop palace and the seminary which contributed to enhance its beauty.

Lecce is a true Baroque city. The interesting presence of a great number of monuments gives to this city a nickname: "The Florence of the South". Here the Baroque is expressed in an unique way. The Lecce’s Baroque is characterized by the "pietra leccese" (Lecce’s stone) a particular soft and compact calcareous limestone, with a peculiar white-gold colour. This material made the Baroque decoration of this city an unique example of this art. Lecce’s Baroque is different from all other trends of this art of the XVIIth century. The Baroque diffused in Lecce during the Spanish domination, substituting the classical art and creating a style which left more space to the imagination of the artists.