Chiesa del Carmine (Carmine Church), Lecce

Walk down Lecce鈥檚 historic streets and the Carmine Church almost feels like it鈥檚 waiting to tell you a story. Its roots go back to the Carmelites (Catholic Order), who first settled in the city in 1481. When an earthquake in 1546 forced them to move, they rebuilt on the site of the old Church of Saint Nicholas, laying the foundation for what would become one of Lecce鈥檚 Baroque highlights.

Construction kicked off in 1711 and wrapped up in 1737, with Giuseppe Cino, Lecce鈥檚 go-to architect, shaping the fa莽ade. Picture it like a three-tiered stage: statues, windows, and ornate details stacked in perfect balance. Curves play against cross-shaped lines, making the whole design feel both disciplined and playful鈥攕tone that seems to breathe with movement.

Inside, the artistry goes up another notch. Between 1731 and 1737, the altars got born, which feature vivid paintings of the Annunciation, Saint Elmo, and the Visitation of the Virgin. With their twisted columns, sculpted figures, and colorful canvases, they capture the drama and devotion of the Baroque at its peak.

The Carmine Church isn鈥檛 just another stop on the map鈥攊t鈥檚 proof that Lecce never did anything halfway when it came to stone and spirit.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Lecce. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Chiesa del Carmine (Carmine Church)
Sight Location: Lecce, Italy (See walking tours in Lecce)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Lecce's Baroque Churches Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Lecce, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Lecce

Creating your own self-guided walk in Lecce is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Lecce's Baroque Churches Walking Tour

Lecce isn鈥檛 shy about its reputation鈥攊t鈥檚 often called the 鈥淐apital of Baroque,鈥� and one stroll through the old town makes it clear why. This southern Italian city turned its soft local limestone, Lecce stone, into an architect鈥檚 playground. Elaborate fa莽ades, swirling details, and sculptures bursting from the walls made the 17th century feel like one long design competition. And with... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

Lecce Introduction Walking Tour

German historian Ferdinand Gregorovius called Lecce 鈥渢he Florence of the Baroque era.鈥� The city traces its beginnings around the time of the Trojan Wars, which took place around the 11th century BC. However, it first steps firmly into the record in the 3rd century BC as Lupiae under Roman control. The name is thought to come from lupus, the Latin word for wolf, recalling the animals that once... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

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