A city and provincial capital of Apulia, Lecce is located on the flattest part of the Salento peninsula, about 12 km from the Adriatic Sea and 27 km from the Ionian Sea. Founded by the Messapi, it became a Roman military station (Lupiae) in the mid-3rd century B.C., later transformed into a municipality. The historical centre has a typical medieval layout furrowed by a few streets that lead to the main monuments of “Lecce Baroque”; these are buildings with a predominantly classical structure but whose surfaces have been rendered admirably plastic by the use of “pietra leccese”. The most important works are the Basilica di Santa Croce (1548-1646) and the nearby Palazzo del Governo, dating from the 17th century; the scenic piazza is overlooked by the Duomo (1659-1670) and the Seminario (1694-1709), with its well-known well. In the historic centre are also the remains of a Roman theatre and amphitheatre, dating back to the 2nd century; the 16th-century Sedile or Palazzo del Seggio; the Spanish Castle and the Castromediano Provincial Museum, which houses a remarkable archaeological section with material from the nearby Rudiae excavations.