Overview
The church of San Francesco della Scarpa reflects the vicissitudes of the Franciscan order in the 16th century: the Observants did not wear shoes, unlike the Conventuals. The religious building, built in the 12th century on land owned by the family, is also called the 'church without a façade' due to the absence of a richly decorated external façade as is customary in Lecce. It is said that in 1222, the Assisiate, on his way to the Holy Land, stopped here and donated a sandal as a token of remembrance. Nowadays, the church is disused and is used as a venue for exhibitions and concerts.
