Santa Croce Basilica and the Golden City of Baroque

Located in the southern Italian region of Puglia, **Lecce** is a city where the splendor of Baroque art coexists with traces of ancient Rome, earning it the nickname 'Florence of the South.' Under the warm Mediterranean sun, Lecce's bright and radiant architecture makes the entire city feel like a vast open-air museum. What makes Lecce special is its use of Pietra Leccese, a soft and easily workable limestone. Buildings intricately carved from this stone showcase the essence of the unique 'Lecce Baroque' style. Among them, the Basilica di Santa Croce stands out as a masterpiece representing Lecce. Its facade, adorned with elaborate decorations and symbolic sculptures, leaves visitors in awe. This basilica is not only a symbol of Lecce's artistic pinnacle but also a central cultural heritage of the city.