Lecce in whose territory we find San Cataldo, is a very old city, born with the Messapi, an independent population in continuous rivalry with the Greeks those was in Taranto. Under the Roman's empire it took the name of Lupiae and the she-wolf of Rome is still illustrated, under an evergreen oak on the coat of arms. The rest of the messapica age can still be found underground. From the Imperial Roman age the amphitheatre and the theatre still exit, consolidated and restored for public performances. Little remains of medieval city, even though between '500 and '600 there was the famous "flourishing of the baroque". Many local architects and anonymous stonemasons designed a characteristic unitary and choral small town, supported by the exclusive use of the "pietra leccese" smooth and easy to work, allows the maximum plastic and ornamental expression. Exposed to the sun it becomes the characteristic golden colour and hardens noticeably. And therefore the "leccese baroque" was born. In lecce the buildings seemed ideally and organically connected together with the streets, and because of this great scenographic effect it was compared to "interior architecture". Lecce is the fined one of the most beautiful cities of Italy and among the most characteristic one in the world.
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