"Antica Lecce B&B" offers to the visitors the chance to stay in complete relaxation. Located in the heart of the historic center of the city, on the ground floor of a building from the late sixteenth century, the place has been restored by recovering the original floor and leaving "at sight" the vaulted ceilings and the local stone along the walls: you will stay in a charming environment, authentically typical. Access is through the lobby of the noble building, surmounted by an arched vault adorned with finely carved capitals in local stone.
The environment is spacious with a large bedroom for the night, a small room with equipped hob and private bathroom, with the possibility to use the internal courtyard for moments of outdoor relaxation. The entrance is independent and ensures your privacy.
Thanks to the natural freshness of the rooms, the living room will be particularly pleasant, offering a refuge from the summer heat.
Staying with us you will find comfort, courtesy, kindness and attention.
THE HISTORY OF THE PALACE
The Pandolfi Family
The Pandolfi were an ancient feudal family of Lecce, who owned the chapel of San Lorenzo, which was demolished in 1760. Tha chapel was located in Piazzetta Raimondello Orsini, the little square in front of the "Antica Lecce B & B". The family Pandolfi lived in Corte dei Guarini n.1, right in the building that today, on the ground floor, hosts the Bed and Breakfast. This historic event was witnessed by L.G. De Simone that reporting about thee family Pandolfi writes: "It was for them the patronage of the chapel of San Lorenzo, which existed until 1760 in the square Raimondello Orsini; their houses were the ones that today have the No. 1 of Corte dei Guarini " (See LG De Simone "Lecce and its monuments" pag.62).
The Pandolfi founded the House of Ussano, that was located in the vicinity of the territory of the municipality of Cavallino, in the province of Lecce. The House and its properties were later purchased by Sigismund II and finally incorporated in the possessions of the king, becoming an integral part of the Cavallino's area.
Giovanni Tommaso Pandolfo, on testamentary disposition of the "gentil'huomo of this city of Lecce» Achilles Maresgallo, completed the construction of the Ospedale dei Pellegrini (Hospital of the Pilgrims), in via A. GrandiAscolta
The palace
The palace was built at the end of 1600. Its characteristic is to have some architectural elements that testify the great faith of the owner and, in general, the ecclesiastical culture of Lecce at the time.
Around the XVII century was in fact common behavior among the noble families of Lecce to finance the construction of chapels and churches. In that period, in fact, we estimate a presence on the territory of Lecce 140 monuments of the genre (the Chapel of S. Lorenzo owned by Pandolfi's is a witness of that fact).
The reason of such a religious fervor is because the builder-owner, financing the costruction of chapels or churches, bought an indulgence, guaranteeing for him and his family the road to heaven. Pandolfi's family, however, had a deep and sincere religious faith that went beyond the profit of the sale of indulgences; this is the reason why they wanted that the architectural friezes that adorned the house could testify their deep ties to the Christian tradition.
The symbols
The lobby entrance to the B&B is characterized by the typical vaults of the Baroque style; the capitals are carved with architectural elements related to Christianity, recalling its origin and symbolism.
We find, in fact:
- Pomegranates, a symbol of resurrection and hope of eternal life and allegory of the Church, which contains a multitude of people, just like this fruit contains many grains;
- Cones, which represent the man hard shell (the body) that encloses its true essence (the soul);
It is also possible to see a rope snake-shaped, which divides the vault in half. This frieze represents the hope of a new life: as the snake sheds its skin turning, so the Christian hopes to revive changed by divine glory. These decorations are the more fascinating because similar friezes are present on the side of the church of Santa Croce, Baroque monument par excellence
The environment is spacious with a large bedroom for the night, a small room with equipped hob and private bathroom, with the possibility to use the internal courtyard for moments of outdoor relaxation. The entrance is independent and ensures your privacy.
Thanks to the natural freshness of the rooms, the living room will be particularly pleasant, offering a refuge from the summer heat.
Staying with us you will find comfort, courtesy, kindness and attention.
THE HISTORY OF THE PALACE
The Pandolfi Family
The Pandolfi were an ancient feudal family of Lecce, who owned the chapel of San Lorenzo, which was demolished in 1760. Tha chapel was located in Piazzetta Raimondello Orsini, the little square in front of the "Antica Lecce B & B". The family Pandolfi lived in Corte dei Guarini n.1, right in the building that today, on the ground floor, hosts the Bed and Breakfast. This historic event was witnessed by L.G. De Simone that reporting about thee family Pandolfi writes: "It was for them the patronage of the chapel of San Lorenzo, which existed until 1760 in the square Raimondello Orsini; their houses were the ones that today have the No. 1 of Corte dei Guarini " (See LG De Simone "Lecce and its monuments" pag.62).
The Pandolfi founded the House of Ussano, that was located in the vicinity of the territory of the municipality of Cavallino, in the province of Lecce. The House and its properties were later purchased by Sigismund II and finally incorporated in the possessions of the king, becoming an integral part of the Cavallino's area.
Giovanni Tommaso Pandolfo, on testamentary disposition of the "gentil'huomo of this city of Lecce» Achilles Maresgallo, completed the construction of the Ospedale dei Pellegrini (Hospital of the Pilgrims), in via A. GrandiAscolta
The palace
The palace was built at the end of 1600. Its characteristic is to have some architectural elements that testify the great faith of the owner and, in general, the ecclesiastical culture of Lecce at the time.
Around the XVII century was in fact common behavior among the noble families of Lecce to finance the construction of chapels and churches. In that period, in fact, we estimate a presence on the territory of Lecce 140 monuments of the genre (the Chapel of S. Lorenzo owned by Pandolfi's is a witness of that fact).
The reason of such a religious fervor is because the builder-owner, financing the costruction of chapels or churches, bought an indulgence, guaranteeing for him and his family the road to heaven. Pandolfi's family, however, had a deep and sincere religious faith that went beyond the profit of the sale of indulgences; this is the reason why they wanted that the architectural friezes that adorned the house could testify their deep ties to the Christian tradition.
The symbols
The lobby entrance to the B&B is characterized by the typical vaults of the Baroque style; the capitals are carved with architectural elements related to Christianity, recalling its origin and symbolism.
We find, in fact:
- Pomegranates, a symbol of resurrection and hope of eternal life and allegory of the Church, which contains a multitude of people, just like this fruit contains many grains;
- Cones, which represent the man hard shell (the body) that encloses its true essence (the soul);
It is also possible to see a rope snake-shaped, which divides the vault in half. This frieze represents the hope of a new life: as the snake sheds its skin turning, so the Christian hopes to revive changed by divine glory. These decorations are the more fascinating because similar friezes are present on the side of the church of Santa Croce, Baroque monument par excellence