PhD Program in Historical studies
Maglie
A small town in the province of Lecce, Maglie can claim, like the surrounding region, a storied past. In fact there are many impressive prehistoric monuments, dating from the Megalithic period, in particular, such as as mirrors, dolmens and menhirs. The current town began to develop from the thirteenth century onwards around a castle, probably erected in the Anjou era and had an eminently defensive function. Reinforced by the Lubello family, the barons of Maglie, during the reign of Alfonso I of AragonAlfonso of Trastámara, called the Magnanimous (1394-1458), Count of Barcelona and the Catalan counties, he was king of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sardinia, Sicily, Jerusalem, Hungary and, from 1442, King of Naples by the name of Alfonso I. After conquering the kingdom of Naples, he established his court in the capital city of Naples, transforming it into the centerpiece of the Crown of Aragon., the castle was in fact demolished by Duke Ascanio Filomarino in the eighteenth century. Of the old structure, now dilapidated and in ruins, only the foundations, the warehouses, stables, the blockhouse and the internal portal of the atrium have remained. The new façade, much more elegant and refined than the last, was enriched by a Baroque portal surmounted by the heraldic shield of the Capece, who succeeded the Filomarino as feudal lords, enriched by two large columns and an elegant balustrade. It was built by the architect Emanuele Manieri Salento. Inside the structure (Figure 1), which now houses Maglie’s Liceo Classico (Classical Lyceum or Secondary School), one can also see graffiti left by prisoners in the criminal jail during the seventeenth century.
The Duomo (Cathedral) or Collegiate Church was built in the late eighteenth century, but its bell tower (Figure 2) was erected between 1686 and 1690. Fourty eight metres high, it is second only to that of the Cathedral of Lecce in height in the province, and is in Lecce stone with five floors. The four orders above are attributed to the architect from Lecce Giuseppe Zimbalo.
Another example of Baroque art, despite present a facade simple and straightforward, is the church of the Madonna delle Grazie. Artists such as Cesare PennaCesare Penna (1607-1680) was a sculptor from Lecce, a protagonist of the great Baroque period experienced by the city in the seventeenth century. His most famous works can be seen in the Basilica of Santa Croce and in the Church of Santa Teresa, both built by architect Giuseppe Zimbalo. Outside of Lecce Penna was also active in other centers of Apulia, such as Maglie and Martina Franca. and the sculptor Giovanni Donato ChiarelloHe was born in Cupertino, in the province of Lecce. Active in the period 1620-1660, Chiarello was a talented sculptor, ready to push his ability to the limits of the fabulous and grotesque. Among his numerous works, we recall the main altar of the Annunziata (Annunciation) in Squinzano, the altar of Santa Maria della Neve (Saint Mary of the Snow) in the Collegiate Church of Cupertino, the high altar and the door of the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Saint Mary of the Graces) in Maglie, the altar of Purgatory in the Mother Church of Casarano. contributed to its construction. The statue of the Virgin and Child, on the portal, is placed between two twisted columns, while the interior has a single nave, sculptures and frescoes of great value.
Various Baroque elements are also found in the churches of the Madonna Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows) and that of Santa Maria della Scala (Saint Mary of the Staircase). But the connection with the Baroque of Lecce is even more obvious if one looks at the column of the Madonna della Grazia (the Madonna of Grace, picture 3), erected between 1684 and 1687. The undoubted resemblance to the column of Sant’Oronzo in Lecce suggests that Giuseppe Zimbalo was also the author of the column in Maglie. The statues of the four protectors of the city (Saints Nicholas, Orontius, Anthony of Padua and Leonard) are placed on a square base, while the statue of the Madonna is at the top on a Corinthian capital. Damaged by lightning at the end of the nineteenth century, the bust of the original statue remained headless and is now located in Largo Madonna delle Grazie. The new statue was built in 1926.