Enchanting Lecce: palaces, theatres and shopping streets
It was in this climate of ferment that some of the city’s most representative institutions were born: the “Bernardini” Provincial Library, the Sigismondo Castromediano Provincial Museum, and the Municipal Theatre.
Leafing through the Archive’s records, we can closely follow the birth of these institutions. In April 1863, Leonida Flascassovitti proposed to the Provincial Council the establishment of a public library, realised between 1863 and 1864: a place intended to preserve and spread knowledge throughout Salento. A few years later, on 10 November 1868, a group of enlightened citizens decided to donate their private collections, mainly numismatic, to create the first Cabinet of Antiquities — the seed of today’s provincial museum.
Among the promoters stand out figures who shaped the cultural history of Lecce and Salento: Sigismondo Castromediano, Leonardo Stampacchia, Luigi Giuseppe De Simone, Salvatore Grande and Cosimo De Giorgi. Their letters, preserved today in our holdings, tell not only of the birth of institutions, but also of a deep desire to bring out the memory, history and pride of the city.
The documents that recount this season of initiatives and visions — along with many other testimonies of that period — are now available in the Virtual Historical Archive. To guide you in discovering these foundational moments, we have curated a thematic selection that will accompany you through records, letters and projects of extraordinary value.
Sto cercando i risultati
Research Guide
Do you need help navigating the Archive’s collections? This section walks you through the consultation process—both online and on-site—providing useful tools, practical guidance, and tips to help you begin or deepen your research.