- Monfalcone
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Monfalcone — Comune — Comune di Monfalcone 
Coat of armsLocation of Monfalcone in Italy
MonfalconeCoordinates: 45°48′N 13°32′E / 45.8°N 13.533°E Country Italy Region Friuli-Venezia Giulia Province Gorizia (GO) Frazioni Archi, Aris, Bagni, Cima di Pietrarossa, Crosera, La Rocca, Lisert, Marina Julia, Marina Nova, Panzano, Pietrarossa, San Polo, Schiavetti, Serraglio, Via Romana-Solvay Government - Mayor Silvia Altran Area - Total 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi) Elevation 7 m (23 ft) Population (2009) - Total 28,101 - Density 1,405.1/km2 (3,639.1/sq mi) Demonym Monfalconesi Time zone CET (UTC+1) - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2) Postal code 34074 Dialing code 0481 Patron saint St. Ambrose Saint day November 21 Website Official website Monfalcone (in the local Bisiac dialect: Mofalcòn, Slovene: Tržič, German: Falkenberg) is a town and comune of the province of Gorizia (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northern Italy), located on the coast of the Gulf of Trieste. Monfalcone means "Mount of Falcon" in Italian.
It is a major industrial centre for manufacturing ships, airplanes, textiles, chemicals and refined oil. It is the home of Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani.
Contents
Geography
Monfalcone is the fifth most populous town in Friuli - Venezia Giulia and the main centre of Bisiacaria territory. Joined to its neighbourhoods, it reaches about 50,000 inhabitants. The town lies between the Carso hills and the Adriatic Sea, being the northernmost port of the Mediterranean Sea.
History
In prehistoric times the area of Monfalcone housed several prehistorical fortified villages called castellieri. After the foundation of the Roman city of Aquileia (181 BC), some thermal buildings were created on the hills, known as Insulae Clarae.
After the Ostrogoth, Byzantine, Lombard and Frank domination, Monfalcone was controlled by the Patriarch of Aquileia starting from 967.[citation needed] The Venetians conquered it in 1420 after three days of siege, keeping it until 1511, when it fell to the French. Conquered back by Venice, it was ravaged by the troops of emperor Maximilian I in 1513, who destroyed the Rocca. In 1521 it was returned to Venice, under which it remained until 1797. It was controlled by France until the fall of Napoleon, after which it became part of the Austrian Empire.
During World War I, it was captured by Italy in 1915 but fell back to Austria after the Italian rout at Caporetto. Monfalcone returned to Italy in 1918.
Main sights
- Rocca (Castle). Of medieval origin (according to a legend, it was founded by Theoderic the Great, King of the Ostrogoths), its current appearance dates to the Venetian restorations in the early 16th century. The interior houses a speleology exhibition.
- Park of World War I
- Karst (Carso) area
- Cathedral of Sant'Ambrogio
Transport
Monfalcone railway station, opened in 1860, is a junction between the Venice–Trieste railway and the Udine–Trieste railway.
People
- Enrico Toti
- Antonio Sant'Elia
- Elisa
- Gino Paoli
- Mauro Pelaschier
- Paolo Rossi, actor
- Stefano Zoff
- Filippo Zappata
- Mo-Do (Fabio Frittelli)
- Sergio Davanzo, painter
- Tranquillo Marangoni, xilographer
- Franco Mania, painter
- Massimiliano Versace, scientist
Twin towns
Neumarkt in Steiermark
Gallipoli, Italy
External links
- Official website (Italian)
Friuli – Venezia Giulia · Comuni of the Province of Gorizia Capriva del Friuli · Cormons · Doberdò del Lago · Dolegna del Collio · Farra d'Isonzo · Fogliano Redipuglia · Gorizia · Gradisca d'Isonzo · Grado · Mariano del Friuli · Medea · Monfalcone · Moraro · Mossa · Romans d'Isonzo · Ronchi dei Legionari · Sagrado · San Canzian d'Isonzo · San Floriano del Collio · San Lorenzo Isontino · San Pier d'Isonzo · Savogna d'Isonzo · Staranzano · Turriaco · VillesseCategories:- Cities and towns in Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- Communes of the Province of Gorizia
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