Dedicatory inscription of the Duomo of Lecce - detail (1660)ArtWork Cultura
The Duomo of Lecce is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and located in the beautiful homonymous square, together with the Bell Tower, the Episcopal Palace and the Ancient Seminary.
Main façade - Duomo of Lecce (1659 - 1670) by Giuseppe ZimbaloArtWork Cultura
It was built in place of the ancient Cathedral and represented the bastion of the new faith in Saint Orontius, who was bestowed the title of Patron after having saved the city from the plague of 1656.
Memorial and coat of arms - Duomo of Lecce (1659 - 1670)ArtWork Cultura
By order of archbishop Luigi Pappacoda, the new Cathedral was built between 1659 and 1670 by Giuseppe Zimbalo, an architect and sculptor from Lecce.
Aerial view of the Duomo and the Bell Tower of LecceArtWork Cultura
With his mastery, Zimbalo was able to give a new monumental appearance to the square and to the whole city, worthy of one of the most important artistic and cultural centres in Southern Italy.
View of the two façades - Duomo of Lecce (1659 - 1670) by Giuseppe ZimbaloArtWork Cultura
The Duomo has two façades: the lateral one is richly decorated and more sumptuous, the main one, more austere, faces the Episcopal Palace.
View of the Duomo and the Bell Tower of LecceArtWork Cultura
With his skilful intervention, Zimbalo was able to adapt the lateral façade of the Duomo to the main view, offering a majestic sight to everyone who enters the square.
Conceived as a triumphal arch, the lateral façade of the Duomo is divided into two orders.
Archbishop Luigi Pappacoda's coat of arms - Duomo of Lecce (1659 - 1670)ArtWork Cultura
Archbishop’s Luigi Pappacoda’s coat of arms stands on the top, with the rampant lion in the act of biting its tail (Pappacoda literally means "tail-eater").
Lateral façade - Duomo of Lecce (1659 - 1670)ArtWork Cultura
In the lower order, next to the columns, there are the niches housing the statues of the co-patrons of the city: Saint Justus and Saint Fortunatus.
Saint Orontius - Duomo of Lecce by Giuseppe ZimbaloArtWork Cultura
A richly decorated balustrade connects the lower and the upper order, where the benedictory statue of Saint Orontius assisted by two angels is located.
Entry portal in Vico dei Sotterranei - Duomo of Lecce (1659 - 1670)ArtWork Cultura
Although unknown to most, a third façade of the Duomo opens onto Vico dei Sotterranei.
Certainly less majestic, it has an elegant portal surmounted by an architrave on which some putti sustain festoons while others play balls with some dogs.
On the gable, decorated with a garland, there is the statue of Saint Irene - original patron of the city - flanked by two angels holding her attributes: the palm of martyrdom and the crown of holiness.
Content edited by ArtWork Cooperativa Sociale.
Project LeccEcclesiae
Media partner: Porta Lecce
