Lecce - Santa Maria della Porta

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.

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Santa Maria della Porta is a round church, adjacent to the Porta Napoli. Originally there was a chapel outside the city walls, containing an image of the Virgin, which was considered miraculous. Work had begun to renew the city walls in 1548, but on account of a renowned miracle, worked by the image on a woman named Laura Macchia, who could walk after being paralyzed for 50 years, the structure was enlarged and built inside the walls.

The present, octagonal building was rebuilt in Neo-classical style 1852 - 1858.