Duomo dell'Assunzione della Vergine / Cathedral of the Assumption of Virgin Mary (Lecce, Apulia, Italy)
N 40° 21.109 E 018° 10.163
34T E 259607 N 4470653
Beautiful Cathedral of the Assumption of Virgin Mary (Duomo dell'Assunzione della Vergine) is one of the key achitectural and spiritual landmarks of regional centre of Salento peninsula in Apulia - town Lecce...
Waymark Code: WM8BAJ
Location: Puglia, Italy
Date Posted: 03/06/2010
Views: 6
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 cathedra was definitely rebuilt in Baroque style in 1659 by the 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.