The Church of Santa Chiara is one of the most beautiful and famous in Lecce. Located in the city centre, close to Piazza Sant’Oronzo, it was commissioned by Bishop Ammirato in 1429. It was finished in 1438 and then renovated in 1687.
The façade was never completed. Nevertheless, it still manages to catch the eye. The front is convex and has two orders: the central one with the portal (on either side of which are pilasters with Corinthian capitals and two columns), while the second has a large window with two niches on either side.
Inside, the church features an octagonal floor plan with a smooth ceiling and a papier-mâché ceiling dating back to the 18th century, which is the church’s real attraction. Also characteristic are the grates behind the chapels, that allowed nuns of the adjacent convent to attend and participate in the services.