 One
of the more significant monuments of the architect from the Norman
times Giuseppe Cino (a student of Zimbalo) is the Church
of Saints Nicolo and Cataldo. He gave
the church a Baroque frontage but still managed to retain the medieval
architecture like the portal and the central eye. The Church
of Graces stands opposite the Sant’Oronzo and has
two huge tympani, one circular and one triangular. Splendid baroque
altars can be found in the Church of Sant’Irene,
which is known locally as the Church of the Theatines.
The Basilica di Santa Croce lies north of the piazza
Sant’Oronzo. Architect Gabriele Ricardo started work on this
in the middle of the 15th century and it was fully completed only
in 1680. The architecture resembles Spanish style and has cherubs,
fantastical monsters, plants and animals covering the façade
made of the beautiful Lecce stone. The top of the façade
was constructed by Antonio Zimbalo and he has done quite a brilliant
job at it. The interior, in stark contrast to the facade, is done
in plain Renaissance style. About fifteen kilometers from Lecce
is situated the very old Cerrate Abbey, which,
according to popular legend, was founded by Tancredi d’Altavilla,
a Norman King, when virgin Mary magically appeared before him during
one his usual hunts. The place was once a significant religious
centre but was later deserted. Now it contains the Provincial
Museum of Folk Traditions in Salento with peasant articles.
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