Lecce, Apulia
Early evening in Piazza Duomo. Shortly before its sinking, the sun makes the church tower and building tops glow for the last time. Next to the cathedral with its baroque portal, the square is surrounded by the bishop's residence and the Diocesan Museum. The legendary foundation of Lecce dates back to 1211 B. C., followed by conquests, ascents and downfalls. It began to flourish in 1550 under the reign of Charles V of the Habsburg dynasty, who had the city developed into a heavily fortified administrative centre. For many buildings, the tufa of the surrounding area, which was easy to work with, was used, stimulating the sculptors to create rich and playful decorations of the building, the Baroque Leccesian style. The disadvantage of the tuff's easy machinability is its low resistance to the weathering effects of the environment.