Brindisi, Italy
Arrived in Brindisi on the southeast coast of Italy. It is an industrial port so we went on a tour to Lecce (pronounced "leche", but is Italian for a type of oak tree) which is called the Florence of southern Italy. This is somewhat of a misnomer because it is a city of Baroque art and architecture.
Over the centuries the city was built on past versions: Roman, Medieval and Renaissance. An abundance of limestone has resulted in amazingly sculpted architecture, Baroque style. We walked the old town part of the city to see the churches and former palaces. Very impressive. In an odd bit of art history, Lecce also is known for its papier-mâché art and sculptures.
The remains of a Roman amphitheater in Lecce.
Another contributor to the old city, the Jewish quarter. The street signs still exist, although the Jewish population is no longer as significant.
This entrance to Lecce was built in 1547 and leads into the main part of the town.
Like so many Italian towns, the church is central to the city and to the people.
Limestone is the primary building material. Note the incredibly detailed carvings, all of which together tell a historical story.
Again, note the detail in this government building. All possible because of the limestone construction material.
Here the architect included a profile carving of himself (circled in red).
