Castle of Carlo V

Castello Carlo V (the Castle of Charles V) is a majestic fortification in the heart of Lecce. Just a few steps from Piazza Sant'Oronzo, it marks the point where the old town and the modern downtown area meet.

Although it has undergone several rebuilds over the centuries, the structure preserves its original trapezoidal base with four massive arrowhead bastions on each corner. An internal courtyard separates two concentric buildings. Dating back to different eras, these testify to the various stages of the Castle's history.

The Castle's central structure dates to the 12th century, while the so-called Torre Quadrata (Square Tower), a quadrangular fortified tower that was incorporated into the 16th century complex, is thought to be Angevin (14th century).

The Castle hosts art exhibitions and cultural events, thus offering visitors the chance to admire its rigorous external architecture, so typical of 16th-century defensive structures, and its rich interior decoration.