Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Lecce Baroque

The original settlement of Matera lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a complex of cave dwellings carved into the ancient river canyon. The settlement is divided into the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. The cave settlements in the area are an exceptional example in the Mediterranean area. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, Matera can be considered one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Greek, Roman, Langobard and Byzantine history, which Matera shares with all of southern Italy, Saracens devastated the place in 938. It came under Norman rule in 1043, became a royal seat and thus achieved considerable wealth. This bloom continued under the subsequent regiments of the Staufer and Anjou, in 1270 the cathedral of Matera was completed. Already by the late 1800s, Matera's cave dwellings became noted for intractable poverty, poor sanitation, meager working conditions, and rampant disease. In 1948, when the city was hit by malaria, 15,000 people lived in 3,300 rooms. From the 1950s on the residents were relocated to newly built apartment blocks. Since the Sassi are now a museum town, tourism is also becoming increasingly important. Known as la città sotterranea ("the underground city"), the Sassi and the park of the Rupestrian Churches were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. In 2019, Matera was declared a European Capital of Culture. The Baroque- style "Church of the Purgatory" was erected 1725 - 1747. It was funded by the "Confraternita del Purgatorio" (Confraternity of Purgatory). The bronze door depocts skulls and bones, as may there be a priest, pope, king or bishop. They will all face death - and eventually purgatory. Today the church is today used by a Russian Orthodox parish.

The original settlement of Matera lies in two canyons carved by the Gravina River. This area, the Sassi di Matera, is a complex of cave dwellings carved into the ancient river canyon. The settlement is divided into the districts of Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. The cave settlements in the area are an exceptional example in the Mediterranean area. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, Matera can be considered one of the oldest cities in the world. According to Greek, Roman, Langobard and Byzantine history, which Matera shares with all of southern Italy, Saracens devastated the place in 938. It came under Norman rule in 1043, became a royal seat and thus achieved considerable wealth. This bloom continued under the subsequent regiments of the Staufer and Anjou, in 1270 the cathedral of Matera was completed. Already by the late 1800s, Matera's cave dwellings became noted for intractable poverty, poor sanitation, meager working conditions, and rampant disease. In 1948, when the city was hit by malaria, 15,000 people lived in 3,300 rooms. From the 1950s on the residents were relocated to newly built apartment blocks. Since the Sassi are now a museum town, tourism is also becoming increasingly important. Known as la città sotterranea ("the underground city"), the Sassi and the park of the Rupestrian Churches were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. In 2019, Matera was declared a European Capital of Culture. The Baroque- style "Church of the Purgatory" was erected 1725 - 1747. It was funded by the "Confraternita del Purgatorio" (Confraternity of Purgatory) and is today used by a Russian Orthodox parish.

The name of the town derives from ancient Greek and translates to "beautiful city". The Greek inhabitants sided with Pyrrhus and Taranto against ancient Rome but after the defeat in 265 BC it became a Roman colony. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was sacked by the Vandals and the Goths and was under Ostrogothic rule until 538, when it was conquered by the Byzantines. Gallipoli got rebuilt and experienced a period of commercial prosperity. After numerous incursions, the Arabs finally conquered it in 915 and remained here until 945. Reconquered by the Byzantines the first major restructuring and strengthening of the castle went underway. In 1055 it was unsuccessfully sieged by the army of Roberto il Guiscardo who had to retire defeated in 1056. In 1132, after a year of siege, it was occupied by the Normans. In 1268, it was besieged by Charles I of Anjou´s troops. As many inhabitants were able to flee the city during the siege, the city was repopulated around 1300. Gallipoli today is divided into two parts, the modern city ("borgo") and the old city (centro storico). The old town is located on an island, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century. The "Duomo di Gallipoli" (aka "Basilica Concattedrale di Sant'Agata vergine e martire") is located on the highest point of the island, on an area that was a sacred place probably since antiquity. The bishopric see existed since the end of the 6th century. A cathedral, originally dedicated to (Byzantine!) John Chrysostom, got replaced in 1126 by a new one, dedicated to Agatha of Sicily. This cathedral got destroyed (or at least severely damaged) when in 1284 Charles I of Anjou occupied the city and had it razed to the ground. The cathedral was probably rebuilt together with the rest of the city around 1314. End of the 15th century the King of Naples, Ferdinand of Aragón, was asked for support, as the cathedral was in dire need of repair. In 1497 a wing of the cathedral had collapsed and the most necessary repairs were made. But the crumbling continued and in the beginning of the 17th century, it was decided to tear it down and build a new church. The erection started in 1629 and continued with many interruptions until the beginning of the 18th century.

The name of the town derives from ancient Greek and translates to "beautiful city". The Greek inhabitants sided with Pyrrhus and Taranto against ancient Rome but after the defeat in 265 BC it became a Roman colony. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was sacked by the Vandals and the Goths and was under Ostrogothic rule until 538, when it was conquered by the Byzantines. Gallipoli got rebuilt and experienced a period of commercial prosperity. After numerous incursions, the Arabs finally conquered it in 915 and remained here until 945. Reconquered by the Byzantines the first major restructuring and strengthening of the castle went underway. In 1055 it was unsuccessfully sieged by the army of Roberto il Guiscardo who had to retire defeated in 1056. In 1132, after a year of siege, it was occupied by the Normans. In 1268, it was besieged by Charles I of Anjou´s troops. As many inhabitants were able to flee the city during the siege, the city was repopulated around 1300. Gallipoli today is divided into two parts, the modern city ("borgo") and the old city (centro storico). The old town is located on an island, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century. The "Duomo di Gallipoli" (aka "Basilica Concattedrale di Sant'Agata vergine e martire") is located on the highest point of the island, on an area that was a sacred place probably since antiquity. The bishopric see existed since the end of the 6th century. A cathedral, originally dedicated to (Byzantine!) John Chrysostom, got replaced in 1126 by a new one, dedicated to Agatha of Sicily. This cathedral got destroyed (or at least severely damaged) when in 1284 Charles I of Anjou occupied the city and had it razed to the ground. The cathedral was probably rebuilt together with the rest of the city around 1314. End of the 15th century the King of Naples, Ferdinand of Aragón, was asked for support, as the cathedral was in dire need of repair. In 1497 a wing of the cathedral had collapsed and the most necessary repairs were made. But the crumbling continued and in the beginning of the 17th century, it was decided to tear it down and build a new church. The erection started in 1629 and continued with many interruptions until the beginning of the 18th century. The façade is a masterpiece in the Lecce Baroque style, but unfortunately, it can only be seen from close up due to the narrow buildings in the area. It bears the date of its completion “A.D. 1696 "

The name of the town derives from ancient Greek and translates to "beautiful city". The Greek inhabitants sided with Pyrrhus and Taranto against ancient Rome but after the defeat in 265 BC it became a Roman colony. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was sacked by the Vandals and the Goths and was under Ostrogothic rule until 538, when it was conquered by the Byzantines. Gallipoli got rebuilt and experienced a period of commercial prosperity. After numerous incursions, the Arabs finally conquered it in 915 and remained here until 945. Reconquered by the Byzantines the first major restructuring and strengthening of the castle went underway. In 1055 it was unsuccessfully sieged by the army of Roberto il Guiscardo who had to retire defeated in 1056. In 1132, after a year of siege, it was occupied by the Normans. In 1268, it was besieged by Charles I of Anjou´s troops. As many inhabitants were able to flee the city during the siege, the city was repopulated around 1300. Gallipoli today is divided into two parts, the modern city ("borgo") and the old city (centro storico). The old town is located on an island, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century. The "Duomo di Gallipoli" (aka "Basilica Concattedrale di Sant'Agata vergine e martire") is located on the highest point of the island, on an area that was a sacred place probably since antiquity. The bishopric see existed since the end of the 6th century. A cathedral, originally dedicated to (Byzantine!) John Chrysostom, got replaced in 1126 by a new one, dedicated to Agatha of Sicily. This cathedral got destroyed (or at least severely damaged) when in 1284 Charles I of Anjou occupied the city and had it razed to the ground. The cathedral was probably rebuilt together with the rest of the city around 1314. End of the 15th century the King of Naples, Ferdinand of Aragón, was asked for support, as the cathedral was in dire need of repair. In 1497 a wing of the cathedral had collapsed and the most necessary repairs were made. But the crumbling continued and in the beginning of the 17th century, it was decided to tear it down and build a new church. The erection started in 1629 and continued with many interruptions until the beginning of the 18th century. The façade is a masterpiece in the Lecce Baroque style, but unfortunately, it can only be seen from close up due to the narrow buildings in the area. It bears the date of its completion “A.D. 1696 "