Chiesa di San Matteo
Chiesa di San Matteo
4.5
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4.5
317 reviews
Excellent
195
Very good
110
Average
10
Poor
1
Terrible
1
phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA16,948 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
This church is unique with respect to the Façade. It has two contrasting orders or levels. The upper portion is concave, while the lower portion is convex.
It is smaller than the major churches but still one to see because of the many beautifully carved stone and wooden Sculptures. The stone main altar, and those in the side chapels are also intricately carved.
Entry comes with the “LeccEcclesie” pass.
Written 19 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SeekerOfGoodValue
Saint Louis, MO353 contributions
Sept 2019
Today, a child outside of a church in Lecce, Italy blew bubbles in the middle of a wedding party. The bubbles blew past the bride and groom towards me. The bride whispered something in her husband's ear, perhaps "I love you" or "I'll love you forever." One of the bubbles floated past me. The child laughed. The bubble popped. It was, then it was not. Each moment is precious. Each bubble reflects a world. Life is a series of bubbles. Enjoy every one. San Matteo is not a sterile example of the baroque. It is the heart of a community. Wouldn't the 17th century architect be happy to know his church is still alive.
Written 2 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N7084CIpaulp
Bangkok, Thailand34 contributions
Sept 2019
This church was included in a ticket for the main 4 churches in Lecce so we included in our tour. Interesting but not very impressive and in need of repair. Interesting was watching the caretakers trying to evict the two pigieons who fly in through the door
Written 15 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TeamW73
Ipswich, UK31 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
We were ushered in to this church by a big burly man, which we thought was a little odd. Within seconds we observed him demanding money from the people as they were leaving the church. As each person left he was shouting "money on the table, money on the table" and if you didn't put any in said goodness knows what to you in Italian It really rather put us off and we rushed our visit. However, the inside of the church is amazing and if you don't mind being bullied, is worth a visit. This is the first time we have come across this and rather hope it is the last.
Written 19 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brun066
Florence, Italy13,352 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
It is said that the Baroque style in Lecce is characterized mainly because its most original contribution is applied, rather than to architecture, to decoration of buildings. From this point of view, perhaps the most famous monument in Lecce, the Santa Croce's Basilica, is revealing: the incredible, exuberant decoration of the facade fits into a pattern that is after all the architecture of the Italian Renaissance (and to some extent even the previous architecture of the Romanesque facades); see also, in Santa Croce's aisles, the echoes of sharp spatial conception of the great Florentine architect Filippo Brunelleschi.
But every rule has its exceptions, and this San Matteo church (built between 1667 and 1700) is indeed an exception. Here the baroque is not mere decorative affixing to a classic architectural scheme; the same architecture moves away from that scheme, to adhere to the most imaginative forms of the international baroque.
A good example of these forms are the creations of architect Francesco Borromini (1599-1667), native from the Ticino region (ie, the Italian-speaking Switzerland) but operating mainly in Rome. The peak of his creativity can be seen in the Roman churches of S. Ivo alla Sapienza and San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane.
And in fact the S. Carlino church is here the subject of attention. As in Rome, the Baroque exuberance here is not entrusted to a sumptuous decoration, but it applies to volumes themselves, which are far away from the Renaissance geometries: the convex bottom facade versus the concave top one; the oval indoor plant.
Then inside and outside the church there are many noteworthy decorations, altars, paintings..... But it is the haunting architectural form of the church to found its greatest originality.
But every rule has its exceptions, and this San Matteo church (built between 1667 and 1700) is indeed an exception. Here the baroque is not mere decorative affixing to a classic architectural scheme; the same architecture moves away from that scheme, to adhere to the most imaginative forms of the international baroque.
A good example of these forms are the creations of architect Francesco Borromini (1599-1667), native from the Ticino region (ie, the Italian-speaking Switzerland) but operating mainly in Rome. The peak of his creativity can be seen in the Roman churches of S. Ivo alla Sapienza and San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane.
And in fact the S. Carlino church is here the subject of attention. As in Rome, the Baroque exuberance here is not entrusted to a sumptuous decoration, but it applies to volumes themselves, which are far away from the Renaissance geometries: the convex bottom facade versus the concave top one; the oval indoor plant.
Then inside and outside the church there are many noteworthy decorations, altars, paintings..... But it is the haunting architectural form of the church to found its greatest originality.
Written 28 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoCalOregonian
Murrieta, CA10,355 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
This church built in 1667, replaced a 1500’s chapel dedicated to St. Matthew. The façade is unique in that the lower portion is convex and the upper portion is concave, creating a unique and interesting façade.
Inside it is of a single nave design with the high alter featuring numerous columns with small statues of saints between the columns, In a central niche is a 1691 wooden sculpture of St. Matthew.
Inside it is of a single nave design with the high alter featuring numerous columns with small statues of saints between the columns, In a central niche is a 1691 wooden sculpture of St. Matthew.
Written 30 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BeaTravels
London, UK163 contributions
Aug 2018
Catholic church aslso known by the locals as Santa Maria della Luce. This little church as most of Lecce baroque chuerches bears the fingerprints of Giuseppe Zimbalo.
Written 17 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
libius2018
Moscow, Russia37 contributions
May 2018
It is a charch of Franciscanian order in Lecce built in style barocco Romano outside, barocco l Leccese insight. There are some beautiful capellas and magestic main altarpiece. Realy recomend for visiting
Written 1 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter P
428 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
The facade of this extraordinary church, located on a small street, is one of the most daring and most interesting of all of the architectural marvels of the city of Lecce. It should be enough to convince anyone of what the Baroque was about and what greatness it could attend.
Go on a Sunday, and you will some of Lecce's population in their finest (and sometimes outrageous) fashions.
Go on a Sunday, and you will some of Lecce's population in their finest (and sometimes outrageous) fashions.
Written 24 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KrisD_pl
Warsaw, Poland7,687 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Built in the 17th century this church is one of the most spectacular in Lecce thanks to its characteristic baroque style - barocco leccese as they say in Italy. You will find many richly ornamented altars with extraordinary columns and many statues. The facade is also eye-catching - semicircular at the bottom, more stratight at the top - also nicely decorated. Definitely worth a visit.
As previous reviewer we also came across a man "asking" for money - saying it was for the poor people and waiting until we finally gave some euro coins. Kind of impolite, pushy behaviour so be prepared to face him.
As previous reviewer we also came across a man "asking" for money - saying it was for the poor people and waiting until we finally gave some euro coins. Kind of impolite, pushy behaviour so be prepared to face him.
Written 19 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Salve, volevo chiedere: quali sono gli orari di apertura?
Written 19 July 2019
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