Pinacoteca "Roberto Caracciolo"
Picture gallery of Franciscan art with paintings and Leccese papier-mâché, part of the Fulgenzio Monumental Complex with its Renaissance nymphaeum and garden.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The gallery is part of the Complesso Monumentale di Fulgenzio della Monica, run by the Province of the Friars Minor of Lecce. The complex also includes the Renaissance nymphaeum, the garden and the church of Sant’Antonio.
The nymphaeum belonged to the suburban villa of Fulgenzio della Monica and is carved into the rock, using the difference in level of a quarry transformed into a garden. The walls and ceiling are covered in shells, and the vault is decorated with figures from Greek mythology such as the Chimera, Poseidon, Bellerophon on Pegasus and the Sirens.
The gallery’s collection brings together sacred works of Franciscan inspiration from the 16th to the 18th centuries, in the tradition of Baroque painting of the Kingdom of Naples, and 20th-century paintings, some with secular themes. One section is devoted to Leccese papier-mâché (cartapesta leccese), with processional statues and small domestic statuettes under glass bell jars.
Highlights
- Renaissance nymphaeum with walls and vault covered in shells
- Sacred paintings by Salentine artists and of the Neapolitan, Caravaggesque and Giordanesque schools
- 20th-century works by Raffaello Pantaloni, Giuseppe Casciaro and Ezechiele Leandro
- Statues and statuettes in Leccese papier-mâché
- Garden and church of Sant’Antonio
- Operated by
- Provincia dei Frati Minori di Lecce
- Visitors per year
- approx. 600
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Children aged 11 to 18, university students with a student record book (libretto), groups of more than 20 people |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 9 · Free admission for children under 10. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Free admission for people with disabilities with one companion. |
| Students & apprentices | €3University students with a student record book (libretto). |
| Groups (20+ people) | –Groups of more than 20 people: reduction on the ticket; book at least 7 days in advance at visite@pinacotecacaracciolo.it. |
| Standard guided tour (Nymphaeum, picture gallery), in Italian, in addition to the ticket | €10Duration 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Private tour (Nymphaeum, picture gallery), per guide, in addition to the ticket | €70Duration 1 hour 30 minutes |
| All-inclusive guided tour (church of Sant’Antonio, upper choir, Nymphaeum, picture gallery), in addition to the ticket | €25Duration 2 hours 30 minutes |
Free admission also for tourist guides and escorts, ICOM members, Patrons, Friars Minor, teachers and students for study purposes with written authorisation from the management, and Ministry of Culture staff on duty. Reductions apply only to the entrance ticket, not to guided tours. Prices may vary for temporary exhibitions and events. The church of Sant’Antonio can be visited free of charge during its opening hours.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Guide dogs and therapy animals with medical certification are allowed. The website provides no further information on the accessibility of the spaces.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Lockers
A bookshop is among the services in the complex; lockers for large bags are available at the ticket office.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Photography | Flash photography and professional photos or videos are not permitted without written authorisation from the management. |
| Good to know | Booking is recommended for every type of ticket, because entries are limited to protect the decorations of the Nymphaeum; once 50 visitors have been reached for the day, no more tickets are sold. The route is fixed, and food, drinks, weapons and large bags may not be brought in. Guided tours are in Italian. Booked tickets are presale tickets and non-refundable. |
