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One of the most ancient noble residences is the Ducal Palace of the  Marulli family, that was probably built in Mother Churchthe XVII century on  an ancient XVI century fortress. The main façade attracts people's attention since it is imposing and richly decorated. On the two sides of the wonderful front door there are two columns with  magnificent capitals surmounted by an elegant balcony. There are also some niches containing  the sculptures of big statues and busts. The interiors are well-decorated and the ceilings are full of paintings. Here there used to be the Chapel of St. James dated  1621. Now this palace has turned into the Town hall. The most important religious monument is the Mother  Church dedicated to the Madonna of the Graces. It was built on the rests of a pre-existing XVII century building  in the XIX century. The wide façade has a simple portal and on its two sides there are two niches containing the statues of St. Peter and St. Paul. This church with nave and two aisles has six very beautiful baroque altars that are richly adorned, a XVIII century silver bust of St. Cesario, a particular wooden statue of the Holy Virgin Mary and valuable canvasses representing the Holy Family, the scene of the Crucifixion, the Madonna and St. Joseph. The smallSt Elia's Church Church of the St. Spirit  dates back to the XVII century. The simplicity of the façade mirrors that of the interiors. On the only altar you can see a wonderful XIX century painting representing the Madonna of the Graces that was made by Giosuè Raho. The Church of St. Elia cannot be dated but it was probably built before the XVI century since there is a notarial deed of that period that makes reference to it. The beautiful main entrance is well adorned and inside there are four altars and interesting paintings representing St. Domenico, the Nativity and the Madonna of the Consolation. What is more there is a fresco divided in twelve parts each representing an episode of the life of this saint. The Church of St. Rocco might have been built in the XVII century and it is very simple. The façade is pretty linear and  inside there are two altars, a statue of the saint, a XVIII century shrine and some canvasses. The most ancient religious monument is the Church of St. John Evangelist dating back to  the end of the XIV century. It was built  according to the Romanesque style and it was restored in  1979. The façade has a very simple front door and it is adorned with some small arcs in the upper part.  During the jobs of restoration some sarcophaguses of the XIII century were recovered. This church is aisless and it has only an altar. The protector of San Cesario is St. Cesario, that is celebrated solemnly on November 7th. 

  

The inhabitants of San Cesario di Lecce have two dialectal nicknames:  "ccuegghicozze" and "mangiapasuli" that, Portal of the Holy Redeemer Church  literally,  mean " snails collectors" and " beans eaters".  The first nickname is closely connected to a popular story that tells that when the workers were building the bell tower of the Mother Church they found a snail in a hole, situated at the bottom of the construction. The head  master tried to take it but he failed because the small animal had reached the foundations quickly. As the man  did not want to be mocked by a stupid mollusc he ordered his men to demolish the bell tower.

 

 

 

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