Lecce - Porta Napoli

A legend tells, that a city called Sybar existed at the time of the Trojan War. It was conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century BC, receiving the new name of Lupiae.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Lecce was sacked by the Ostrogoth troops of king Totila. In 549 it was taken by Byzantium and remained part of the Eastern Roman Empire for five centuries, interrupted by brief invasions by the Saracens, Longobards, Hungarians and Slavs.

After the Norman conquest in the 11th century, Lecce regained commercial and political importance, flourishing in the subsequent Hohenstaufen and Angevine rule. From the 15th century, Lecce was one of the most important cities of southern Italy, and, starting in 1630, it developed into a centre of Baroque architecture. This was made possible by the soft tuff stone found in the area, perfect for that architecture.

-
The Porta Napoli is an "Arco di Trionfo" built in 1548 in honour of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Charles V, head of the House of Habsburg, had commissioned the fortification of Lecce and the erection of a castle.

The reliefs of the gable depict armour, weapons and the Spanish coat of arms. The "Arco di Trionfo" was inaugurated during a state visit by Emperor Charles V.