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Retire Early
Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler
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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age
of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this
financially independent lifestyle, they invite you
to take advantage of their wisdom and experience. |
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The Bishop's
Palace
Lecce, Italy
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
Currency Converter
The 17th century was a time
when the city of Lecce was flourishing culturally and artistically. This is when
The Bishop's Palace was built and it is considered a superb example of Baroque
architecture.
In front of the Cathedral,
the Palace and the Seminary - is a magnificent Piazza - almost breathtaking in
its size.
This Palace continues to
serve as the residence of the Archbishop of Lecce and is an architectural gem of
the city.
Looking at the Cathedral Our Lady of
Assumption
From the entrance off the street into this
large Piazza, you can see the Cathedral straight ahead, the bell tower on the
left and the Palace in the back on the right.
The cathedral was consecrated in 1144 (that's
almost 900 years ago!) but
underwent a Baroque transformation much later, leading to its elaborate
exterior.
You'll see carvings, statues, weather-worn
Lecce
stone and archways.
The cathedral contains twelve side chapels,
each with its own altar.
That's a big place!
The Palace in the center
The Bishop's Residence is in the center of
the photo, with the Seminary on the right.
Can you imagine living in such luxury?
Impressive.
The square occasionally hosts concerts and live
music performances.
These events take place in
the open-air setting of the square, providing a unique backdrop for
performances.
Billy and I saw one such
jazz
performance in Antigua, Guatemala and the background of antiquity made the
experience unforgettable.
The Lecce Bell Tower
The soaring 5 story bell tower you see here
on the left is 230-foot tall.
At times, this bell tower was also used as a
watchtower.
A wider view of the buildings on the
Piazza
See how large this Piazza is?
It is beautifully decorated during the Christmas season
with a
large Christmas tree and lots of lights.
With such a grand area for tourists and
locals to enjoy this spectacle, it must be just stunning!
Sometimes
local markets take
place here too.
The Seminary
This enormous building
takes up the entire western length of Piazza del Duomo.
If you look closely, you will see lots of
intricate details, especially around the windows
In its heyday, I wonder how many seminarians
it housed?
Statues and carving
During the Baroque time period, many statues
of saints, bishops and other important people were carved and placed in
prominent places such as the Bishop's Palace.
You'll notice the elaborate carvings and
Latin writing underneath the veranda.
A closer view of the complicated
embellishing on this building
The beauty and detail of these designs are
remarkable.
It must have taken great focus and artistry
to have produced all of this.
If ever you are in Lecce, it is a must to go
and see the Bishop's Palace.
__________
The Bishop's Palace
It is free to enter the Piazza and entry into
the Bishop's Palace itself is not allowed.
There is a nominal amount charged to visit
the Cathedral.
The Seminary is open at differing times
depending on the seasons, generally closing in the afternoons.
Tourist kiosks are plentiful and have tickets
and information available if you are interested.
For more stories, photos and videos of
Italy, click
here
For more on
Retirement Topics,
click here and
here
About the Authors
Retire
Early Lifestyle appeals to a different
kind of person – the person who prizes their
independence, values their time, and who doesn’t
want to mindlessly follow the crowd.
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