Basilica di San Giovanni Battista al Rosario (Church of St. John Battista of Rosario), Lecce

Church of St. John Battista of Rosario (Basilica of San Giovanni Battista al Rosario) is located in the historic center of Lecce. It has been serving as the parish headquarters since 1914 and was built by the architect Giuseppe Zimbalo between 1691 and 1728 for the Dominicans. Situated on Giuseppe Libertini Street, close to Rudiae Gate (Porta Rudiae), the basilica replaced a previous structure from 1388 when the Dominican fathers first arrived in Lecce.

The construction of the new building began in 1691 under the supervision of the seventy-year-old Giuseppe Zimbalo, who also contributed to its financing. After Zimbalo's death in 1710, other artists, including Giulio Cesare Penna the Younger and Leonardo Protopapa, completed the construction by 1728.

The basilica's façade is elaborate and divided into two levels. The lower level features two large fluted columns framing a grand entrance. Above the entrance, the Dominican symbol and the San Domenico di Guzman statue can be seen. Adjacent to the entrance are niches containing stone statues of Saint John the Baptist and Blessed Francis of the Order of Preachers.

Internally, the basilica takes the shape of a Greek cross, with a spacious octagonal chamber covered by wooden trusses. Along the internal perimeter are twelve small chapels with intricate Baroque altars, arranged within the vaulted chapels of the octagonal cross.