CHURCH OF ST. MATTHEW

A contrast of lines between the two levels of the front, which is convex at the entrance and concave in the upper part, characterises this site. We may define it an unusual church if compared to the others that are defined baroque for their external decoration. In this case, on the contrary, the architect Larducci was probably influenced by the renowed Borromini style displayed in the famous church”San Carlo alle quattro fontane” in Rome.

The adopted materials are obviously different and the decorative elaborationsare made easier by the soft local stone; the diamond points take a round shape to become scales ; columns change into parastades and, on the upper part,a window that echoes the “serliana” with on its sides flowered vases. Its interior faithful to the exterior is elliptic containing 12 very rich altars where the staues of the apostoles are displayed(Placido Buffelli 1692); noteworthy the wooden ceiling and the organ coming from the original Holy Cross church.

THEATRE IN LECCE

Untill the XVII century most of the theatrical shows were held in private houses or in creaky wooden theaters built for the specific event.

Lecce has always had an important passion for theater and therefore locals welcomed the building of a theater inside the Charles V castle.

However in 1781 some women begged the King to do not call anymore the Singer Maria Cecilia Colletti because she had had too many love affairs with local men during her stay in Lecce for the shows.

For that reason and for moral decency, the engeneer Oronzo Bernardini built the Paisiello theater in 1870

CHURCH OF THE CARMINE

The building  of the Carmine  church arised a controversy because of the Domenican confraternity envy.Legend claimed Domenicans helped by some citizens tried to demolish the church at night.

STREET GALATEO

At the civic  no.5 in Galateo street there was the famous “Baby Hatch”or “Foundling Wheel” is a place where mothers brought babies( usually newborn) and leave them anonimously to be cared for.

At the civic  no.2 in Galateo street there is a house that was considered “Bewitched” because it is said that every night a priest head less body appeared to warn people to not get in the house

STREET PALADINI

At the civic no.2 in Paladini street there is a “bewitched” house, the Zizzari home; there a young piano player lady killed herself after a romantic seatback and , it is said that every year at the anniversary of the death of the lady you can hear her piano playing.

STREET PERRONI

In Perroni street there is the namesake palace that is clearly recognizable because above its entrance portal there is a carved out angel in leccese stone that welcomes visitors. The angel grabs a ring shaped bread as remainder of the St. Francis visit; indeed it is said that the saint knocked at the door of the house and a boy greeted him offering a bread.

STREET FEDERICO D’ARAGONA

Along Federico d’Aragona street close to the Theutra alley on the corner carved out from the stone there is the face of a lady; it is the simbol of a star crossed lovers pulled apart by their families with an unhappy ending.

IL GERANIO

The geranium is a flower you can usually see on the iron wrought balconies of the historic center in Lecce . During the XVIII century this flower was also  “the flower of the cuckolds “, since it needs to be frequently watered;  so women had more time to spend on ther balconies waiting for their lovers to stop by their houses to arrange the date.

LA MARA

The area where today there is the Greek church is also famous because most of the houses of the neighborhood were owned by Mara, a well- known transexual who died a decay ago. Mara was famous not only because of his outing but also because he rented his apartments only to immigrants, and got filthy rich( more than one billion lire).When he died he gave all his savings to the Benedectine church  and to a child care fondation.

BASILICA OF SANTA CROCE

The church and the adjacent convent of the Celestine Convent represent, in their harmonious unity, the most complete example of the Leccese Baroque. Built to replace the ancient church within the castle, the Basilica was rebuilt several times between 1549 and the mid-17th century, the work of three generations of architects and master-craftsmen. The façade is composed of two orders surmounted by a large pediment, and clearly shows the two different styles in the long balcony supported by telamons (six human figures and seven animals) and the balustrade decorated by putti holding emblems

“LU LAURU” O “LAURIEDDHU”

Lu Lauru” o “Laurieddhu” is a little elf who is part of the imaginary Salento . Often spiteful , lu lauru is one who hides objects in homes or who , in the tradition of Salento , weaves , at night , the horses’ tails