Ezechiele Leandro's Santuario della Pazienza in Puglia
In San Cesario, near Lecce, Italy, the Santuario della Pazienza is an open-air architectural wonder created by outsider artist Ezechiele Leandro. Starting in the 1960s, Leandro built walls of anthropomorphic statues from cement and recycled materials, with iron cores, that frightened locals. He dedicated his life to this sanctuary until his death in February 1981. Leandro also produced thousands of mobile works—paintings, assemblages, drawings, and sculptures—developing a primitive language independent of art history. His figures, made from cement mixed with colorful ceramic shards, are unsettling yet vibrant. Despite being considered mad, he inscribed on his studio wall: "Respect your paintings." The sanctuary now requires urgent restoration, as heirs and institutional neglect have taken their toll.
Key facts
- Ezechiele Leandro created the Santuario della Pazienza in San Cesario, near Lecce, Italy.
- Construction began in the 1960s and continued until his death in February 1981.
- The sanctuary features walls of anthropomorphic statues made from cement and recycled materials.
- Leandro was an outsider artist who developed a primitive style independently of contemporary art.
- He also created thousands of mobile works including paintings, assemblages, drawings, and sculptures.
- His figures incorporate colorful ceramic shards mixed into the cement.
- Locals considered him mad, but he inscribed 'Respect your paintings' on his studio wall.
- The sanctuary now requires urgent restoration due to neglect by heirs and institutions.
Entities
Artists
- Ezechiele Leandro
Institutions
- Artribune
- Accademia delle belle arti di Brera
Locations
- San Cesario
- Lecce
- Italy
- Puglia
- Salento