Baroque Lecce
Baroque Lecce – Centuries before the invention of public schooling, billboards and living pictures, the church used its exterior walls to tell the story
Every time I’m in Lecce, I try to photograph the beautifully renovated Baroque buildings that have earned this city its ‘Florence of the South’ nickname. Amateur photographers in Lecce are up against narrow streets and deep shadows that make it hard to do the architecture justice, but this shot at least captures the exaggerated embellishments on chiesa di San Giovanni Battista built in 1691 by the local architect and sculptor Guiseppe Zimbalo.
Coming from a protestant culture, where churches are no-nonsense solid and unadorned, I’m mesmerized by the richly decorated facades of Italy’s 16th century churches and convents. There flower arrangements, animals, vegetables, strange and supernatural figures carved in stone side by side with saints, sinners and incidents depicted in the Bible. Centuries before the invention of public schooling, cartoons, billboards and living pictures, the church used its exterior walls to tell their story. And it still works. A brilliant idea from a communication point of view.
More in the neighbourhood of baroque Lecce
Nardo sights: Pealing paint and layers of legend
Cartapesta is not just for tourists
Arabian Nights in Santa Cesarea Terme Italy
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista in Lecce
Nice photo and writeup. I like how the crop at the top emphasizes the details.
Thanks – I appreciate that coming from a pro.
Enhanced by the blue skies.
Wow, as you said, your shot captures the exaggerated embellishments. Great photo – and a beautiful building.
Julia