San Giovanni Battista

San Giovanni Battista, also known locally as Basilica di San Giovanni Battista al Rosario, is a mesmerizing example of Baroque architecture nestled in the heart of Lecce, Italy. This stunning basilica, which has served as a parish church since 1914, was constructed for the Dominicans by the renowned architect Giuseppe Zimbalo between 1691 and 1728. The basilica stands proudly on Via Giuseppe Libertini, just a stone's throw from Porta Rudiae, and remains a testament to the architectural brilliance of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

The History of San Giovanni Battista

The current structure of San Giovanni Battista was built on the site of an earlier building dating back to 1388, the year the Dominican fathers arrived in Lecce. The foundation stone of the new church was laid on March 6, 1691, and the construction was overseen by the septuagenarian Giuseppe Zimbalo, who also personally financed part of the project. Zimbalo passed away in 1710, and the basilica was completed in 1728 by other artists, including Giulio Cesare Penna the Younger and Leonardo Protopapa. In 1948, Pope Pius XII declared the church a minor basilica, further cementing its importance in the religious and cultural landscape of Lecce.

The Exterior of San Giovanni Battista

The exterior of San Giovanni Battista is a feast for the eyes, with its exuberant Baroque façade divided into two orders by a balustrade adorned with floral trophies and statues on spherical pedestals representing the visions of the prophet Ezekiel. The lower order features two voluminous fluted columns framing a grand portal, topped with the symbol of the Dominicans and a statue of Saint Dominic. Flanking the portal are niches housing statues of Saint John the Baptist and the Blessed Francis of the Order of Preachers.

The central balustrade, which separates the two orders and aligns with the large central window, is graced by a statue of the Virgin Mary. Additional statues are positioned in the large niches corresponding to those in the lower order. The façade culminates in another balustrade and a broken pediment. At the base of the entire façade, two tall plinths hold statues, one of which is of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

The Interior of San Giovanni Battista

The interior of San Giovanni Battista is equally impressive, designed in the shape of a Greek cross with a large octagonal space covered by wooden trusses. Originally, the plan included a dome, but this was rendered impossible due to the expansive design and the untimely death of Zimbalo. Around the perimeter of the octagon, statues of various saints, including Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Augustine, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Gregory the Great, Saint Ambrose, and Saint Jerome, are positioned on the bases of the pillars, which are adorned with the coats of arms of the families who contributed to the church's construction.

The interior perimeter is marked by twelve short chapels, each featuring opulent Baroque altars. At the entrance, the altars of Saint Catherine of Siena and the Baptism of Jesus, both from the first half of the 18th century and designed by Mauro Manieri, greet visitors. Moving along the left arm of the cross, one encounters the altars of the Nativity of Jesus, the Madonna of the Rosary, and the Nativity of Mary. The presbytery houses the main altar in Lecce stone, with numerous paintings on the back wall, including the central piece depicting the Preaching of the Baptist by the 17th-century painter Oronzo Letizia from Alessano. Four smaller canvases depicting Stories of Abraham, attributed to the Neapolitan painter Paolo Finoglio, are also noteworthy.

In the right arm of the cross, the altars of the Assumption, the Crucifix, and Saint Rose of Lima, the latter featuring a 1735 painting by the Lecce artist Serafino Elmo, can be found. The four altars in the chapels of the octagon are dedicated to Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Vincent Ferrer, Saint Dominic, and Saint Peter Martyr. Of particular interest is the intricately carved pulpit depicting the vision of the Apocalypse, the only one of its kind in Lecce churches made of stone. The counter-façade houses the cenotaph of Antonio De Ferrariis, known as Galateo, with portraits and marble inscriptions from 1561 and 1788.

San Giovanni Battista is more than just a church; it is a magnificent symbol of Baroque artistry and a beacon of historical and cultural significance in Lecce. Its intricate details, both inside and out, offer a captivating journey through history, art, and faith, making it an unmissable attraction for anyone visiting this beautiful Italian city.