Near Piazza Sant’Oronzo, embraced by a series of artistic monuments overlooking the square, we find the Cathedral of the Duomo, the symbol par excellence of the religious life of the people of Lecce.
The Cathedral, as we see it today, dates to 1659 when Bishop Pappacoda gave the task to the architect Zimbalo to rebuild the church in the Baroque style of Lecce. The architect chose not to modify the plan of the original building, dating back to 1144 and finished the work in 1670, the year in which the solemn consecration took place by the Bishop who commissioned it.
Its externals
The Duomo boasts two elevations: one on the left of the Episcope and one on the side overlooking the entrance of the homonymous Piazza.
The main one is quite simple at a decorative level and is divided into two parts decorated with niches containing the statues of St. Peter and Paul, St. Gennaro and St. Louis of Toulouse.
The fluted pilasters, as they are arranged, give the idea of the three-nave structure of the Church.
The side facade, however, is very rich in decorations, in pure baroque style. It represents, in fact, the main entrance of the church and is divided into five zones. At first glance, the imposing bronze portal (made by Manzù) immediately draws attention, along with the two side niches in which there are statues of St. Giusto and St. Fortunato. The entablature is surmounted by a small colonnade that houses, just behind, the statue of S. Oronzo.
Next to the side facade, stands the Bell Tower of the Duomo, built to replace the Norman one. It has a square shape and consists of five floors, surmounted by an octagonal dome that houses an iron mat of S. Oronzo. The bell tower is embellished with Latin epigraphs and is about 70 meters high.
From the top you can look out and admire the view up to the Adriatic coast and, on clear days, up to nearby Albania.
Due to a slight failure of the foundations, the bell tower is slightly inclined towards the left, almost imperceptible to the human eye.
Its internals
The interior of the cathedral is characterized by a Latin cross structure, with three naves divided by pillars and semi-columns. The wooden ceiling surrounds several paintings by Giuseppe da Brindisi: the Preaching of St. Oronzo, his Martyrdom, the Last Supper and the Protection from the plague.
Inside the building, you can admire a series of 12 altars full of picturesque works by artists of the time: Giuseppe da Brindisi, Oronzo Tiso, Gianserio Strafella, G. Domenico Catalano and G. Coppola.
The high altar, a blaze of marble and gilded bronze, fills the presbytery and is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, as witnessed by the precious canvas that dominates it. It was commissioned by Bishop Sersale to the Neapolitan marmorai in 1744 but today it only performs the decorative function: in fact, just in front there is another altar that is used for functions, consisting of a polychrome Neapolitan inlay dating back to the eighteenth century, taken from the altar of the nativity.
Piazza Del Duomo
Known as one of the main squares of Lecce, Piazza Duomo is dominated by a prepotent Baroque that characterizes - in addition to the Duomo and the Campanile - also the Episcopio and the Palazzo del Seminario. The urban furniture is harmonized and consistent with the style wanted at the time and seems almost to embrace anyone who enters: Piazza Duomo is in fact a closed square, that is accessible only from one side. It even had doors that used to be closed at night.
