Friday, 15 August 2014

Lecce, capital of Apulian Baroque

Lecce is one of the Apulian cities which tourists seem to be fond of.


















Yesterday, I went to Lecce at Notte della Taranta, a folk music itinerant festival.

However, on the 23rd of August, the latest, huge concert of Notte della Taranta festival will be held in Melpignano, close to Lecce.















Notte della Taranta is one of the most popular folk music concerts in Europe.

Every year, the concert in Melpignano attracts almost 50.000 people.

It is a joyful party, where people free their spirit by dancing the Pizzica, a faster version of tarantella.

So, let’s come back to Lecce.


Lecce is a magnificent city, a candidate to be European capital of culture 2019.

It is located in Salento, area which encompasses the province of Lecce, Brindisi and partially Taranto.

The Baroque in Lecce is joyful.



Baroque, influenced by the Spanish Plateresque style, took place between the 16th and 17th century, after the battle of Lepanto.





The battle of Lepanto sanctions the end of the Ottoman threat to Europe.







The local upper class, in order to show its status, financed the constructions of new buildings and churches. 






Additionally, buildings already existing, were renewed with Baroque motifs.


The workforce was directed by two great local architects: Giuseppe Zimbalo and Giuseppe Cino.







One additional peculiarity of the local Baroque is due to pietra leccese, the local stone.

The pietra leccese  is easy to work with.

An additional peculiarity is its warm color.




The film industry has played a key role to the success of Salento, of which Lecce is the main city.  

Edoardo Winspeare is the filmmaker of movies set in Salento like pizzicata, Sangue vivo, il miracolo and Galantuomini.

These movies portray a society with a strong connection between the past and the present.

The soundtruck of his movies is obviously the pizzica.

Pizzica, which will be celebrated at Notte della Taranta in Melpignano on the 23rd of August.

Let’s meet up there, then.

If you wish to view more pics, please click here

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