The Cathedral of Lecce

The Cathedral of Lecce is situated on the homonym square and is the fulcrum of the religious life of the city. The Cathedral is dedicated to St. Mary of the Assumption and was first built in 1144, then in 1230 there were made maintenance works, and the church was definitely rebuilt in 1659 by the architect Giuseppe Zimbalo under request of the bishop Luigi Pappacoda, his mortal remains are conserved in the altar dedicated to St. Oronzo ( The Saint Patron of the city). The Cathedral has two entrances, the principal is on the left side of the church and the second on the square. The principal 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.