Marittima is a hamlet of the Diso municipality in the province of Lecce .
72-411: Located in the lowest part of Salento between Castro , Andrano and Diso, Marittima is about 48 km from Lecce. The part of the country overlooking the coast is named Marina di Marittima According to popular opinion, the name of the town is due to its proximity to the sea. In fact, the coast is only a kilometre from the town. It has also been claimed that the name is related to the founders of
144-500: A 2018 Gold Medal New York International Olive Oil Competition (NYIOOC) winner, Frantoio , Garganica , La Minuta , Leccino , Moresca , Nocellara Etnea , Nocellara Messinese , Ogliarola , Ogliarola Barese , Ogliara Messinese , Ottobratica , Peranzana , Rotondella , Santagatese , Saracena , Tonda Iblea , and Verdello (subspecies of San Benedetto). Since 2008–2010, the olive oil industry in Apulia has been under threat from
216-647: A base to fight against the Turks. Charles V restores several castles, among them the castle of Lecce . In 1713, Austria was granted Salento in the Treaty of Utrecht , although the Venetians and Ottoman Turks continued to attack the region. Following Austria being granted access, in 1734, the Battle of Bitonto, Spain defeatee Austria and took control of Apulia once more. In 1806, the abolition of feudal society within
288-453: A hundred inhabitants, the town was ransacked again, this time by Saracen pirates (as were many neighbouring areas). Attacks by pirates occurred frequently until the early 19th century. In order to defend Salento , a system of watchtowers was built around Marittima. Between the end of 400 AD and the start of 500 AD a large tower – known as Torre Lupo (Wolf Tower) – was erected and still stands. Several turrets were also built in
360-467: A type of bread. Typically Apulian pasta shapes are orecchiette , cavatelli , and troccoli . Popular street foods include panzerotti , sgagliozze (fried polenta ), popizze (small fried balls of pizza dough that are sometimes also called pettule), rustici (puff pastries stuffed with tomatoes, béchamel sauce, mozzarella, and black pepper), the famous pasticiotto (a flaky shortbread dough filled with custard), and focaccia barese. A popular snack in Apulia
432-465: Is Taralli . As with the other regions of Italy, the national language (since 1861) is Italian. However, because of its long and varied history, other historical languages have been used in this region for centuries. The local languages of northern and central Apulia (roughly the provinces of Bari , Barletta-Andria-Trani , and Foggia as well as the northwestern parts of the Province of Taranto ) are
504-742: Is 1st place among Italian grape-growing regions. But in the production of quality DOC and DOCG wines, Apulia has only ranked 12th of 20 with 297.667 hl. There are four DOCG wines: There are an estimated 50 to 60 million olive trees in Apulia, and the region accounts for 40% of Italy's olive oil production. There are four specific Protected designations of Origin (PDO) covering the whole region. Olive varieties include: Baresane , Biancolilla , Brandofino (Castiglione), Buscionetto ( Biancolilla ), Carolea , Cellina di Nardò , Cerasuola (Ogliara), Cerignola ( Bella di Cerignola ), Cima di Bitonto , Cima di Mola , Coratina , also grown in Corning, California,
576-527: Is a cultural , historical , and geographic region at the southern end of the administrative region of Apulia , in southern Italy. It is a sub- peninsula of the Italian Peninsula , sometimes described as the "heel" of the Italian "boot". It encompasses the entire administrative area of the Province of Lecce , most of the Province of Brindisi (all of it except Fasano and Cisternino ), and
648-565: Is a region of Italy , located in the southern peninsular section of the country, bordering the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Strait of Otranto and Ionian Sea to the southeast and the Gulf of Taranto to the south. The region comprises 19,345 square kilometers (7,469 sq mi), and its population is about four million people. It is bordered by the other Italian regions of Molise to
720-523: Is flanked by two niches. The interior is of a neoclassical style with three arched aisles containing numerous paintings. The most important of which, Saint Vitale on Horseback, is on the high altar. In the central vault there is a stunning elliptical dome on which is painted the glory of the Trinity and the family of Saint Vitale. The Shrine of Our Lady of Constantinople, built in 1610, has preserved its architectural lines despite adjustments made over
792-506: Is generally very rare in coastal Salento. In contrast, southerly sirocco winds can bring warm temperatures of 20°C+ even during the midwinter months. Alongside much of southern Italy, summers are hot, dry and sunny. While the seas which surround Salento moderate it from the extreme heat seen in Foggia and Basilicata , summer temperatures are still high with temperatures occasionally reaching 40°C or higher during heatwaves. Sirocco winds from
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#1732765276378864-694: Is located in Taranto . The unemployment rate stood at 14.1% in 2020. The port of Taranto hosts numerous fishing boats. The fleet is mainly made up of about 80 fishing boats, which do not exceed 10 gross tonnage and which practice trawling, while the remaining small-scale fishing boats operate with gillnets. The sea, rich and generous, is populated by dentex , sea bream , glit-head bream , grouper , redfish , mullet , mussels , sea urchin , anchovies , shrimp and squid . Other significant fishing ports are Manfredonia , Trani , Molfetta , Mola di Bari , Monopoli , Castro , and Gallipoli . Today Taranto
936-548: Is mainly intensive and modern agriculture that allows the region to be among the first in Italy for the production of many products: Vegetable growing ( lettuce , artichoke , fennel , cabbage , celery , barattiere , borage , sweet potato , caper , portulaca , broccoli rabe ) and horticulture ( peach , orange , clementine , lemon , kumquat , fig , pomegranate , persimmon , prickly pear ) are also developed. Vineyards cover 106.715 ha (263.70 acres) in Apulia, which
1008-549: Is the largest metallurgical work ILVA Acciaierie di Taranto (8,200 empl.) in Europe with a full iron and steel production cycle. It will be sold to Arcelor Mittal . In Brindisi , there is a chemical industrial park with an ENI power station, ENI oil refinery, Syndial chemical factory, and Versalis chemical factory (basic chemistry, intermediates, polyethene, styrenics and elastomers). LyondellBasell polypropylene plant, Sanofi plant (antibiotics). Another ENI oil refinery
1080-474: Is the world's largest producer of farmed mussels : with 1,300 employees, around 30,000 tons of mussels are processed per year. Mussel farming has characterized the city's economy for centuries, making the mussel the gastronomic symbol of Taranto. It is said that the first mussel gardens in La Spezia , Pula , Olbia and Chioggia were established by mussel farmers who emigrated from this city. The workplace of
1152-559: The A14 highway ( Bologna – Taranto ), which connects the region's capital, Bari , to Taranto , the second most populous city in the region. The A14 also connects Foggia and points further north along the Adriatic coast to Pescara , Ancona , Rimini and eventually Bologna . The only other highway in the region is the A16 (Naples–Canosa), which crosses the Italian peninsula east–west and links
1224-715: The Appian Way and, in the imperial era, of the Via Traiana along which cities such as Troia , Ordona , Gravina , Canosa , Ruvo and Bitonto prospered. The region occupied leading positions in the production of grain and oil, becoming the largest exporter of olive oil in the East. At the Fall of the Western Roman Empire , Apulia also went through a long period of suffering. Heruli and Ostrogoths invaded
1296-571: The Barletta province, and wood and furniture in the Murge area to the west. Between 2007 and 2013 the economy of Apulia expanded more than that of the rest of southern Italy. Such growth, over several decades, is a severe challenge to the hydrogeological system. Apulia's thriving economy is articulated into numerous sectors boasting several leading companies, but most of them produce materials or components, not finished goods: In Taranto , there
1368-932: The Byzantines , followed by the Normans , the Aragonese and the Spanish . Subsequently, it became part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies , to then be annexed to the unified Kingdom of Italy after the Expedition of the Thousand . Apulia's coastline is longer than that of any other mainland Italian region. In the north, the Gargano promontory extends out into the Adriatic sea like a "sperone" ("spur"), while in
1440-560: The Byzantines , the Normans and Angevins . The first written document confirming the presence of the settlement dates back to 1277; the Angevin registers from one year inform us of a certain "Rubeo de Soliaco" who was named "Lord of Casale Marittima". In the feudal period, Marittima was part of Castro County which was under the control of various noble families including the Orsini Del Balzo , Gattinara , Ruiz De Castro and
1512-630: The Democratic Party has served as President of the Apulian region. Apulia is divided into six provinces: Important locally produced ingredients include olive oil, artichokes, tomatoes, eggplant, asparagus, and various kinds of seafood. Local specialties include the carosello , a variety of muskmelon which is often consumed when unripe. Apulian Protected designation of origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical indication (PGI) products included cheeses, olive oils, fruits and vegetables, and
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#17327652763781584-609: The Franco-Provençal language called Faetar is spoken in the mountain villages of Faeto and Celle di San Vito , in the Province of Foggia . It is sometimes classified as a pair of dialects of Franco-Provençal, Faetar and Cellese. The Arbëreshë dialect of the Albanian language has been spoken by a small community since refugees settled there in the 16th century. Apulia is home to several national football, water polo , volleyball, basketball and tennis clubs. Across
1656-729: The Holy Roman Emperor , Frederick II . Between 1266-1442, the French Angevins came to power and Apulia became part of the Kingdom of Naples , taken from the Kingdom of Sicily . Following the merger with Naples, the Kingdom of Naples became a part of the Crown of Aragon until 1458. In 1480, the Ottomans under Gedik Ahmed Pasha lay siege to and ransack Otranto . Hundreds to almost a thousand men were slaughtered over
1728-633: The Kingdom of Naples under the French , near the start of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Naples . Following the abolition of feudal society in 1816, the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of Sicily went through a state merger , becoming the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies . Late Bronze Age settlements were complex and comparatively rich. They lost their wealth at the beginning of the Iron Age and degraded into dispersed huts. In 1861, during
1800-675: The Lopez De Zunica families. This control lasted until 1809 when the Rossi family became the owners of Marittima. In the feudal Middle Ages, the daily life of the area's farmers and fishermen was shaken up when, on the 28 July 1537, the Turks (who were allies of the French against the Spanish governor of the Kingdom of Naples) seized Castro and destroyed several towns, including Marittima. Some years later, in 1573 when Marittima had only
1872-515: The Napoleonic era , provided the modernization of Apulia with the abolition of feudalism and judicial reforms until the return of the Bourbons and the birth of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies . Liberal movements were formed throughout the region in 1820 with the spread of Freemasonry and Carbonari . With the Kingdom of Italy established in 1861, Apulia was administratively divided into
1944-517: The Principality of Taranto , which extended across the entire Terra di Otranto . In 1043 the Normans founded the county of Apulia which in 1059 merged into the vast County of Apulia and Calabria , whose borders progressively extended up to in Principality of Salerno . From 1130 it became part of the Kingdom of Sicily . In the 13th century the name Apulia was used by some authors to indicate
2016-688: The Risorgimento , Apulia joined the new Kingdom of Italy , which following Apulia joining the young nation, the Catholic Church was forced to sell the majority of its land by the Kingdom. In 1922, under Mussolini the production of grain, olives and wine is increased in Apulia to try to make Italy a self-sufficient nation. In 1939, the Second World War had started, which German troops were placed in Salento and Italy. In 1943 in
2088-754: The Sahara Desert . On some days in spring and autumn/fall, it can be warm enough to swim in Gallipoli and Porto Cesareo on the Ionian coast while at the same time, cool winds warrant jackets and jumpers/sweaters in Monopoli and Otranto on the Adriatic coast. The area between Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca is part of the Regional Natural Coastal Park of "Costa Otranto — Santa Maria di Leuca e Bosco di Tricase " wanted by
2160-587: The Salento Peninsula was known as Calabria in that period), but the occupation of the region, in the third century BC, was not easy, especially for the resistance of Tarentum and Brundisium. In 216 BC in Cannae the Roman army suffered its worst defeat against Hannibal 's Carthage . The Roman Province of Apulia and Calabria was then established, which also included Irpinia . With the construction of
2232-572: The Adriatic Sea and in the southern Salento peninsula, are frequently exposed to winds of varying strengths and directions, strongly affecting local temperatures and conditions, sometimes within the same day. The Northerly Bora wind from the Adriatic Sea can lower temperatures, humidity and moderate summer heat while the Southerly Sirocco wind from North Africa can raise temperatures, and humidity and occasionally drop red dust from
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2304-592: The Apulia Region in 2008. This territory has numerous natural and historical attractions such as Ciolo , which is a rocky cove. In 2010 the Ministry of Health declared 98.6% of the Apulian coasts suitable for bathing. Human settlement in Apulia dates back to at least 250,000 years ago, as evidenced by the fossil remains of the Altamura Man , an archaic form of Neanderthal . There are numerous finds from
2376-549: The Apulian Southern Italo-Romance dialects, including Bari dialect and Tarantino dialect . In the southern region of Salento , an extreme Southern Italo-Romance language, the Salentino dialect is widely spoken. There is also an Italiot Greek language found in Salento called Griko , which is still spoken by a few thousand Griko people in some areas. In addition, a rare daughter language of
2448-724: The Greek return, the Lombards tried to conquer Apulia and Salento in 569 AD, but were pushed back by the Byzantines in Northern Apulia. The Saracen people occupied Bari , Ugento , and Taranto in 847 AD, but the Byzantines and Greeks still remained in the un-occupied regions of Salento. Following this occupation, the Saracens in 870 AD destroyed Ugento , and deported all the inhabitants of Ugento to Africa , which after
2520-548: The Marittima University or by private citizen to defend the small town against attacks by Turkish pirates above all after the destruction of Otranto (1480) and Castro (1537 and 1573). Originally there were five but today only four towers remain: Torre di Alfonso (Alfonso Tower), Torre Baltassara (Baltassara Tower), Torre della Piazza (Piazza Tower) – the only one which is still inhabited – and Torre di Paolino Russi (Paolino Russi Tower.) The largest and
2592-625: The Salento peninsula is geographically flat with only moderate hills. The climate is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry and sunny summers and mild and rainy winters. Snowfall, especially on the coast is rare but has occurred as recently as January 2019 (following on from snow in March 2018 and January 2017). Apulia is among the hottest and driest regions of Italy in summer, with temperatures sometimes reaching and exceeding 40 °C (104 °F) in Lecce and Foggia . The coastal areas, particularly on
2664-543: The Shrine of Our Lady of Constantinople. It is made from local stone and is topped by a cross. Galleria Santuario Madonna di Costantinopoli The economy is predominantly agricultural and is based on the production of oil, vegetables and tobacco. Some food companies reside here. With the growth of tourism in Salento, in recent years there has been a sharp increase in the appearance of hotels, guest houses and other holiday accommodation. The main roads are: You can also reach
2736-518: The Taranto mussel farmers is the boat; every detail of the working method has improved over time. 10 m long structures made of wood or metal, called "pali" (piles), are attached to the seabed, to which ropes and nets are then attached, on which the mussels are grown. The mussels farmed here are particularly tasty and valued because they grow in a special environment, a mixture of salt seawater and karst freshwater. These special environmental conditions of
2808-644: The Virgin and the altar of the Crucifix dated 1691. There is also a small lead pipe organ which dates back to the 18th century. The Convent of Conventual Fathers was constructed between 1615 and 1619. This is known because, in 1614, it was not yet listed among the monasteries which existed at the time in Apulia . However, in 1621, a certain Catrini was buried there. The task of the convent's religious community
2880-461: The age of 15 by the Ottomans when they refused to convert to Islam, causing them to be beheaded. Neighboring towns to Otranto were fortified in an attempt to protect themselves from the Ottomans and further onslaughts. During this period, between the years of 1482 and 1484, the Venetians briefly gained control of Salento. In 1534, Emperor Charles V realises the strategic importance of Salento as
2952-508: The area, who arrived by sea and would have been called marittimi ; so Marittima indicates the place where they lived. There is no definite information on the origins of the town although it is assumed that Marittima was founded or inhabited by the Messapi and that it suffered the same fate as its neighbours, Vaste , Diso and Castro , which were overtaken first by the Romans and then by
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3024-609: The centre via the internal provincial road: SP81 Vaste -Diso- Tricase - Gagliano del Capo , SP82 Diso- Spongano , SP83 Diso Vignacastrisi – Castro . SP81 Gagliano del Capo- Tricase - Vaste , SP195 Gagliano del Capo-Litoranea Otranto - Leuca . The nearest train station is Spongano on the Gagliano del Capo-Maglie line from Ferrovie del Sud Est , the nearest train station to Lecce. The closest civil airports are: 1. The History of Marittima Salento Salento ( Salentino : Salentu , Salentino Griko : Σαλέντο ),
3096-399: The centuries. This shrine is linked to an ancient tradition. An image of Our Lady of Constantinople on Lecce stone now dominates the high altar on an artistic canopy. The walls of the single nave, once adorned with numerous paintings, are now home to only those of Saint Francis of Assisi and Immacolata . Of notable interest are the baroque portal, the high altar containing the oval icon of
3168-643: The collapse of the Roman Empire, Salento came under the control of the Ostrogoths . Otranto in the sixth century AD became the seat of the Byzantine government , which during the Byzantine era , the Greek population had returned to Salento, bringing the Greek language , religious beliefs , artistic influences, agriculture , and trade. Greek is still seen in parts of Salento as Salentino Griko . Following
3240-421: The cultivation of olives, citrus fruits and palm trees. The generally flat topography and surrounding seas can make Salento prone to windy weather year round. Winters are mild and rainy with temperatures generally hovering in the teens °C during the day. Occasional bora winds from the northeast can bring colder temperatures to the east of the Italian Peninsula. Snowfall has been recorded as recently as 2017 but
3312-424: The destruction of Ugento , Taranto was also destroyed by the Saracens. In 1016, the Normans arrived in Southern Italy , landing in Salerno . Apulia became governed in 1059 by Norman Robert Guiscard, Duke of Apulia and Calabria, which this was the beginning of a period of prosperity for the region of Salento. Apulia became a part of the Holy Roman Empire under Henri VI von Hohenstaufen, followed by his son,
3384-407: The inhabited centre. Marittima was an independent municipality until 1809. The Mother-Church is dedicated to the Protector Saint Vitale . It was rebuilt several times: once in the 16th Century after the devastation by the Turkish and then in the 18th century due to the structure's dilapidation. The current structure dates back to early 1900. It has a simple facade with a central doorway which
3456-790: The lidos at Baia Verde and nearby naturist beaches. Salento Pride is celebrated annually. The coastal towers in Salento are coastal watchtowers , as the peninsula's coast was long subject to maritime attacks by the Saracens . The first towers may have been built by Normans . The remaining historic towers are mostly from the 15th and 16th centuries. Many are now in ruins. [REDACTED] Media related to Salento at Wikimedia Commons [REDACTED] Salento (Italy) travel guide from Wikivoyage 40°20′00″N 18°00′00″E / 40.33333°N 18.00000°E / 40.33333; 18.00000 Apulia Apulia ( / ə ˈ p uː l i ə / ə- POO -lee-ə ), also known by its Italian name Puglia ( Italian: [ˈpuʎʎa] ),
3528-479: The migration, the Greeks arrived in Messapia from Sparta , and giving Salento the name Magna Grecia . In the fourth century BC, the Roman Empire built the Appian Way or Via Appia, connecting the capital Rome to Apulia . The Romans expelled the Greeks and took control of the region in 272 BC. Under Roman occupation, Salento developed a flourishing agricultural economy growing wheat , and producing olive oil . The Roman Empire collapsed in 476 AD. Following
3600-438: The most artistically beautiful, Torre di Alfonso (named after the owner) is located in the heart of the old town, in Via Cellini. It has a square base and was refined by adding a ledge and a balcony which adorn the upper face. The Hosanna Column, so-called because it was used during the Palm Sunday, was erected in 1620 and was originally situated in the middle of the main square. It was dismantled in 1926 and rebuilt in 1961 near
3672-405: The north, Campania to the west, and Basilicata to the southwest. The regional capital is Bari . In ancient times, more precisely at the beginning of the first millennium BC, the region of Apulia was inhabited by the Iapygians , while during the 8th century BC its coastal areas were populated by ancient Greeks . Later, the region was conquered by the ancient Romans . It was then conquered by
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#17327652763783744-408: The ongoing the Second World War , Italy joined the allied powers, causing the ports of Bari , Brindisi and Taranto to suffer heavy bombing as Allied troops attempted to remove German forces from Apulia. The Salento peninsula is composed of limestone , dividing the Gulf of Taranto to the west from the Strait of Otranto on the east, with the Adriatic Sea to the north and the Ionian Sea to
3816-448: The pathogen Xylella fastidiosa , a disease that inhibits the trees' uptake of water and nutrients. The epicentre of the epidemic is the southeastern part of the region. Apulia has many small and picturesque villages, 14 of them have been selected by I Borghi più belli d'Italia (English: The most beautiful Villages of Italy ), a non-profit private association of small Italian towns of strong historical and artistic interest, that
3888-460: The popular dishes from the Salento area include: The nearest international airports are those of Brindisi and Bari (the latter is out of Salento but not far). A 2-lane freeway connects Salento to Bari. The main railway line ends at Lecce . Other locations are served by regional railroads. Leisure ports are those of: Taranto , Brindisi , Campomarino di Maruggio's tourist and leisure Marina, Gallipoli , Santa Maria di Leuca , Otranto . In
3960-412: The prehistoric era, including several menhir and dolmen . Around the 1st millennium BC, the Iapygians settled in the territory with the tribes of the Daunians , the Peucetians and the Messapians , as well as the populations of the Calabri and the Sallentini (both settled in Salento ); later, in the Hellenic era, the Magna Graecia colonies were quite numerous, especially in the southern part of
4032-441: The progressive decline of the latifundium, the ancient Apulian farms, properties of medium agricultural size, also decayed. During fascism , Apulia was affected by numerous land reclamations in vast areas and, following the post-war agrarian reform, the region enjoyed strong agricultural development. In the 1970s and 1980s the economy of the region moved from the primary sector to the tertiary one, with notable development coming from
4104-410: The province of Lecce, the Ciolo cave is one of the main tourist destinations. Salento's sagre food festivals show off local cuisine, cooking traditions and local culture. These communal feasts are vibrant, welcoming occasions that provide an introduction to Salento's cuisine. Salento is a major holiday destination for the Italian gay population, developing around the southern town of Gallipoli,
4176-433: The provinces of Foggia, Bari and Lecce; to these were added in the twentieth century the provinces of Brindisi and Taranto. In the period following the unification of Italy, various brigand gangs arose, especially in Capitanata and Terra di Bari; among the major exponents are Michele Caruso, Antonio Angelo Del Sambro and Giuseppe Schiavone, the latter a faithful lieutenant of the Lucanian brigand leader Carmine Crocco . With
4248-459: The region with Naples . There are two international airports, Karol Wojtyła Airport in Bari ( IATA : BRI ) and Brindisi Airport (IATA: BDS ), which serve as the principal logistical hub for the United Nations Global Service Center headquartered in Brindisi . With the approval of a redevelopment project in 2018, the Grottaglie Airfield (IATA: TAR ) will host a spaceport for the Italian Space Agency and Virgin Galactic . Emigration from
4320-467: The region's depressed areas to northern Italy and the rest of Europe was very intense in the years between 1956 and 1971. Subsequently, the trend declined, as economic conditions improved, to the point where there was net immigration in the years between 1982 and 1985. Since 1986, the stagnation in employment has led to a new inversion of the trend caused by a decrease in immigration. Since 1 June 2015, former judge and mayor of Bari Michele Emiliano of
4392-406: The region, including the city of Taras , now Taranto . During the second Samnite war (326–304 BC), the Roman army , in an attempt to provide relief to Lucera , besieged by the Samnites, suffered a serious defeat in the Battle of the Caudine Forks , in 321 BC. Rome soon understood the strategic importance of Apulia (corresponding only to the central-northern part of present-day Apulia, while
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#17327652763784464-422: The seas of Taranto are ideal not only for the mussels but also for the fish and crustaceans that find food and shelter between the piles. While there are around 18 submarine freshwater springs, called "Citri", in the Mar Piccolo, there is only one large one in the Mar Grande, which is called "Anello di San Cataldo " in honour of the patron saint of the city. Agriculture plays a prominent economic role in Apulia. It
4536-412: The separation of the island of Sicily from the rest of the south of the peninsula, Apulia was under the rule of the Kingdom of Naples , from that moment the power of the landowners began to take root in the territory. From the middle of the 18th century the region of Apulia experienced a period of strong economic prosperity and excellent development of trade and agriculture. Between 1806 and 1815, during
4608-406: The south occasionally deposit dust and sand from the Sahara in the coastal towns of Salento during such heatwaves. Humidity levels can be high and summer thunderstorms are not unknown. Its borders are: In Salentino, the Salentino dialect of Extreme Southern Italian is predominantly spoken, although an old Hellenic dialect (known as Griko ) is also spoken in a few inland towns. Some of
4680-422: The south, the Salento peninsula forms the "tacco" ("heel") of Italy 's boot. The highest peak in the region is Monte Cornacchia 1,152 m (3,780 ft) above sea level) within the Daunian Mountains , in the north along the Apennines . It is home to two national parks, the Alta Murgia National Park and Gargano National Park . Outside national parks in the North and West, most of Apulia particularly
4752-432: The south-eastern part of the Province of Taranto (like Grottaglie and Avetrana , but not Taranto itself). In ancient times the peninsula was named Sallentina , Calabria , or Messapia . In the eleventh century BC, Messapians migrated to Apulia from the Illyrian coast, to what was Messapia ( Greek : Μεσσαπία ) which was the ancient name of a region of Italy largely corresponding to modern Salento. Following
4824-401: The south. Known also as "peninsula salentina", from a geo-morphologic point of view it encompasses the land borders between Ionian and the Adriatic Seas, to the "Messapic threshold", a depression that runs along the Taranto - Ostuni line and separates it from the Murge . The climate is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters which provides suitable conditions for
4896-411: The southern part of the Italian peninsula. During the Sicilian domination Apulia achieved great material and civil progress, which reached its peak with Frederick II , who was responsible for the construction of a series of secular and religious buildings, some of high artistic value, including Castel del Monte , near Andria . During this period Foggia became one of his residences. From 1282, following
4968-409: The territory, but in the end it became the dominion of the Eastern Roman Empire , from the 6th to the 11th century except for a brief partial occupation of the region by the Emirate of Bari . Bari became the capital of a territory extending up to present-day Basilicata and subjected to the authority of a Catepanate . With the advent of the Normans in the 11th century, Taranto became the capital of
5040-503: The tourism sector. The region's contribution to Italy's gross value added was around 4.6% in 2000, while its population was 7% of the total. The per capita GDP is low compared to the national average and represents about 68.1% of the EU average. The share of gross value added by the agricultural and services sectors was above the national average in 2000. The region has industries specialising in particular areas, including food processing and vehicles in Foggia ; footwear and textiles in
5112-408: Was founded on the initiative of the Tourism Council of the National Association of Italian Municipalities. The region has a good network of roads, but the railway network is less comprehensive, particularly in the south. There are no high-speed lines, but a high-speed line between Naples and Bari is under construction, which should be completed in 2027. The region is crossed northwest to southeast by
5184-498: Was to guard the Shrine of Our Lady of Constantinople and to run a small hospital. The convent was suppressed for the first time in 1652 as a result of the Bolla Instaurandae of Pope Innocent X and was reactivated in 1654. The year 1795 marked the definitive end of the convent. Over the years it was owned by different families; the premises were even used as a tobacco processing factory. The City Towers were built by
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