Movement, grandeur, theatrical and illusionistic effects, these are the peculiar characteristics of the Baroque which in Puglia has taken on its own particular style, so much so that it deserves the nickname of Apulian Baroque.
But what does this uniqueness consist of? The structures of the buildings, both civil and religious, are not very different from those observed in northern and central Italy, but in Puglia the Baroque is distinguished by the richness and exuberance of the decorative elements.
This particularity gives a strong plastic sense, enhanced by the intense brightness of the Apulian sun, to the admirable examples of this architectural style found especially in the Salento area.
It is precisely in Lecce, in fact, that the legendary Apulian light, for hundreds of years, has enhanced the exuberant wealth of splendid buildings designed, created and sculpted by the skill and imagination of skilled artists.
In the heart of Salento, churches, palaces, squares exhibit a spectacular Baroque, made even more fascinating by the unmistakable, flexible and gentle Lecce stone.
The Apulian Baroque could almost be defined as a miracle that blossomed in the middle of the Spanish domination, characterized by economic and social depression, and favored by three factors: the artistic fervor of the religious orders born after the Council of Trent, the genius of the Salento artists and the incomparable ductility of the Lecce stone.
