Bell tower of the Duomo, the roof of Salento
WITH ITS 72 METERS OF HEIGHT, THE BELL TOWER OF THE LECCE DUOMO IS THE TALLEST IN SALENTO. MADE ENTIRELY IN LECCE STONE, IT IS STRUCTURED IN FIVE SLOPING ORDERS; ON THE TOP OF THE DOME, COVERED WITH COLORED MAJOLICA, REST A GLOBE AND A LAMINA DEPICTING SANT'ORONZO IN THE ACT OF BLESSING THE CITY.
Historical notes
The Bell Tower of the Lecce Duomo rises approximately on the same site as the ancient medieval bell tower which, according to the sources, towered over the city with a very high tower created in the image of the one built in Thessaloniki in honor of Sant'Irene.
The works for its construction were entrusted to the Leccese architect and sculptor Giuseppe Zimbalo who, as with the Duomo, encountered many difficulties on the construction site, taking over twenty years to be completed. The Governor of the city, in fact, suspended the works twice: the first for the suspicion that, given its height, it was a watchtower for military purposes; the second because, due to its size, it blocked one of the entrances to the courtyard. In both cases, Archbishop Pappacoda prevailed. The bell tower was completed and, on the fourth order of the construction, the one adorned with pyramidal decorations, the date of completion of the works was carved on: 1682.
