- Source: Francavilla Fontana
Francavilla Fontana (Francavillese: Francaìdda [fɾaŋkaˈiɖɖa]) is a town and comune (municipality) in the province of Brindisi and region of Apulia, in southern Italy. It is also called the town of the "Imperiali", after the Imperiali, a family of feudal lords who ruled the town from the end of 16th century until the 18th century. With a population of 36,358, in 2017, it is the third municipality of its province after Brindisi and Fasano. Its one of the many towns in south Italy where the Greek dialect Griko is spoken.
History
The name Francavilla has French-Norman origins: "Franca" (tax-free) and "villa" (town). The specification Fontana ("fountain") alludes to a vision of the Virgin Mary witnessed by Prince Filippo d'Angiò, who hence declaring the town a tax-free haven, according to the local legend.
Geography
Francavilla is located in the Altosalento, on the last Murge's hills, and it is equidistant, about 35 kilometres (22 mi), from Taranto and Brindisi. The municipality borders with Ceglie Messapica, Grottaglie, Latiano, Manduria, Oria, San Marzano di San Giuseppe, San Michele Salentino, San Vito dei Normanni, Sava and Villa Castelli.
Main sights
The massive square Castle (Palazzo Imperiali) of the Imperiali family, to whom, with Oria, it was sold by St. Charles Borromeo in the 16th century for 40,000 ounces of gold, which he distributed in one day to poor and plague-infected people in Milan.
Mother Church, built from 1743 over a former Angevine construction.
Torre dell'Orologio (watchtower), built in 1750.
Transport
The town, 18 km east of Taranto-Grottaglie Airport, is served by the SS7 "Appia" highway. The local railway station is a junction point between the lines Taranto–Brindisi, owned by the national company FS, and Martina–Lecce, owned by FSE. It is served by regional and, on the Taranto-Brindisi line, by long-distance trains also.
Sport
The local football club is the Virtus Francavilla, that has its home ground in John Paul II Stadium.
People
Giovanni Manfredi (b. 2006), loka player
Ottaviano Andriani (b. 1974), marathon runner
Cosimo Caliandro (1982–2011), middle-distance runner
Clementina Forleo (b. 1963), judge
Giuseppe Renato Imperiali (1651–1737), cardinal
Michele Imperiali Simeana (1736–1782), prince
Giacomo Leone (b. 1971), long-distance runner
Francesco Ribezzo (b. 8 May 1875, died Lecce, 19 October 1952), glottologist - the science of tongues or languages; comparative philology, particularly the dialect of F. Fontana
Twin towns
San Giovanni al Natisone, Italy
See also
Minor Basilica of the Most Holy Rosary
References
External links
(in Italian) Official website
"Francavilla Fontana". Brindisi Virtual Tour (in Italian). Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Basilika Rosario Mahakudus, Francavilla Fontana
- Serie C
- Daftar basilika di Italia
- Hati nurani
- Daftar basilika
- Francavilla Fontana
- History of Francavilla Fontana
- Fontana
- Virtus Francavilla Calcio
- Province of Brindisi
- Imperiali family
- Francavilla Calcio
- Francavilla
- Francavilla Fontana railway station
- Minor Basilica of the Most Holy Rosary
