Built on the Venetian island of the same name, on which all buildings had been destroyed by a 1223 earthquake, this church has a brilliant white marble facade, which is thrown into sharper focus by the blue of the surrounding water. The original campanile fell in 1774 and was rebuilt some 20 years later; the splendid view from its top is now even easier to access thanks to the inclusion of a lift.
22. Basilica di Santa Croce, Lecce
Built on land formerly occupied by banished Jews, construction of this church took over 200 years to complete. The facade is richly decorated, featuring marvelous creatures, cherubs and mythical beasts, which were created under the guidance of Giuseppe Zimbalo; there’s also a magnificent rose window. Inside, the church is formed in the Latin cross plan and features no fewer than seventeen altars.
