Mesagne

Mesagne
—  Comune  —
Città di Mesagne
Coat of arms
Mesagne Location of Mesagne in Italy
Coordinates: 40°34′N 17°48′E / 40.567°N 17.8°E / 40.567; 17.8Coordinates: 40°34′N 17°48′E / 40.567°N 17.8°E / 40.567; 17.8
Country	Italy
Region	Puglia
Province	Brindisi (BR)
Government
- Mayor	Vincenzo Incalza
Area
- Total	122 km2 (47.1 sq mi)
Elevation	72 m (236 ft)
Population (31 December 2006)[1]
- Total	27,902
- Density	228.7/km2 (592.3/sq mi)
Demonym	Mesagnesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	72023
Dialing code	0831
Patron saint	Madonna del Carmine
Saint day	16 July
Website	Official website

Mesagne(Local language Misciagni) is a comune in the province of Brindisi in Puglia,on the south-east Italy coast. Its main economic activities are tourism and the growing of olives and grapes. It's the fifth - most - populous town of the province, and it is located at 15 km from Brindisi.

History

Mesagne was an important center when Apulia was dominated by Messapi, because it joined Oria to the Brindisi's port. After the roman conquest, it was also an important city located on the Appian way. Its name is from these times: In the Middle Age it was called Castrum Medianum, then Castro Misciano, the actual name is used from the 16th century. When Giovanni Antonio Orsini Del Balzo decided to expend the city's castle, Mesagne evolved, with the construction of a theater, a hospital and the paving of roads. Actually, the city is quite important in the economy of the province.

Important Monuments

• The castle, existing from the 11th century; in 1195 it was given to the Teutonic Knights. Today it houses an arachaeological museum
• Messapic necropolises
• 15th century walls
• Palaeo-Christian church (tempietto) of St. Lawrence (7th century)
• Basilica del Carmine (14th century)
• Mater Domini church (1598-1605)

Distance from major cities in Apulia

• 10,5 km from Brindisi
• 40,4 km from Lecce
• 57,6 km from Taranto
• 110,3 km from Bari

Population

• Mesagne has 27.902 citizens
• In Mesagne there are 9.556 families, and 12.115 houses (Dates in 2001)
• In Mesagne live 255 foreigns, the largest part of these are from Albania

Local Culture

Events

• Natale Nel Cuore (Christmas in Heart): exposition of little statuettes representating the most important characters of Christmas
• Cavalcata dei Magi (Cavalcade of the Magi): Historical.

Sagre

• Sagra della fucazza chena: Festival of the stuffed cakes
• Sagra degli stacchioddi: Festival of Orecchiette
• Sagra delle pesche: Festival of peaches

Sport

In Mesagne, the most popular sport practised is soccer.

Soccer

The most representative team of the city is the A.S.D. Mesagne, become in 2009 A.S.D. Mesagne 1929. The team plays in the Promozione championship.

Basketball

Basketball is very practised in the city, in fact there are two teams, Mens Sana Mesagne and Virtus Mesagne, who play in the C2 championship. Also the female team is important: Meyana Mesagne plays in A2 championship.

Volleyball

The city's female volleyball team, Volley Mesagne, plays in C championship.

References

1. ^ Population from ISTAT