The Saint’s
blessing to the city
We
cannot leave Santo Oronzo Square without passing by the Roman column. The austerity
of the wave of the Saint-Knight who defended the city against the Turks, continues
to represent a way of belonging to the history of this land for all the citizens
of Lecce. The bronze statue was realized in Venice at the end of 17th century.
Due to the previously mentioned excavations of the Roman Anphiteatre the statue
was turned from South to North, towards the city rather then the Anphiteatre.
After the excavation of the Anphiteatre the surface of Santo Oronzo Square became
twice as large. For this reason, in 1945 the column of the Saint was lengthened
by a shaft that was added to the base. In fact, the Roman column of Santo Oronzo
Square is higher than its twin, that which still remains at the port of Brindisi.
This remaining column in Brindisi signifies the end of the famous ancient Via
Appia, the other end of which began in Rome.
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