Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Chiesa del Gesù

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. - The Chiesa del Gesù (aka "Madonna del Buon Consiglio") was built for the Jesuit order, who settled in Lecce in 1574. A year later the construction started following a design of the Jesuit Giovanni De Rosis, who came from Como. The entire building is inspired by the Chiesa del Gesù in Rome, considered the Mother of the churches of the Jesuit order. Somehow the interior of Baroque churches always seems a bit dusted.

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. - The Chiesa del Gesù (aka "Madonna del Buon Consiglio") was built for the Jesuit order, who settled in Lecce in 1574. A year later the construction started following a design of the Jesuit Giovanni De Rosis, who came from Como. The entire building is inspired by the Chiesa del Gesù in Rome, considered the Mother of the churches of the Jesuit order. Seen above the portal is the emblem of the Society of Jesus adored by two angels. On top of the gable is the sculpture of the Pelican who is breaking his chest to feed his offsprings.

The church dedicated to San Silvestro (aka "Chiesa del Gesù") church may have been erected around 1000. On 13 March 1271 Henry of Almain, son of Richard, Earl of Cornwall and Count of Anjou, grandson of John, King of England (aka "John Lackland"), attended a mass here together with King Philip III of France (aka "Philippe le Hardi") and Charles of Sicily (aka "Charles I of Naples"). During the ceremony Henry of Almain was attacked by his cousins Simon and Guy de Montfort. Henry was dragged out and stabbed to death by his cousins right in front of the church. The brothers claimed to have done this in revenge of the death of their father and brother, who had been beheaded during the Battle of Evesham (1265). For this crime the Montfort brothers were excommunicated, and Dante banished Guy to the river of boiling blood in the seventh circle of his Inferno.