- Massafra
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Massafra — Comune — Città di Massafra
Coat of armsLocation of Massafra in Italy Coordinates: 40°35′N 17°7′E / 40.583°N 17.117°ECoordinates: 40°35′N 17°7′E / 40.583°N 17.117°E Country Italy Region Apulia Province Taranto (TA) Frazioni Cernera, Chiatona, Citignano, Marina di Ferrara Government - Mayor Martino Carmelo Tamburrano Area - Total 125 km2 (48.3 sq mi) Elevation 110 m (361 ft) Population (31 December 2008)[1] - Total 32,007 - Density 256.1/km2 (663.2/sq mi) Demonym Massafresi Time zone CET (UTC+1) - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2) Postal code 74016 Dialing code 099 Website Official website Massafra (Greek: Messaphros) is a town and comune in the province of Taranto in the Apulia region of southeast Italy.
Contents
History
According to some hypotheses[2], Massafra was founded in the 5th century by refugees from the Roman province of Africa, invaded by the Vandals. The first historical mention of the city dates however from the 10th century, when it was a Lombard gastaldate.
After the Norman conquest of southern Italy, it was given to a nephew of Robert Guiscard, who fortified it and restored the castle. Later it was part of the Principality of Taranto, to which, as a free town, it belonged until 1463. In 1484 it was assigned to Antonio Piscitello. In 1497 it was sacked by the troops of Charles VIII of France, and the fief went to Artusio Pappacoda, whose family held it for a century and a half. They were succedeed by the Carmignano and the Imperiale.
Main sights
- Numerous rock settlements, from the Neolithic to the High Middle Ages
- Castle of Massafra, known from 970.
- Mother Church (16th century)
- Natural reserves of Monte Sant'Elia and Stornara
References
External links
- Official website (Italian)
Puglia · Comuni of the Province of Taranto Avetrana · Carosino · Castellaneta · Crispiano · Faggiano · Fragagnano · Ginosa · Grottaglie · Laterza · Leporano · Lizzano · Manduria · Martina Franca · Maruggio · Massafra · Monteiasi · Montemesola · Monteparano · Mottola · Palagianello · Palagiano · Pulsano · Roccaforzata · San Giorgio Ionico · San Marzano di San Giuseppe · Sava · Statte · Taranto · TorricellaCategories:- Cities and towns in Apulia
- Communes of the Province of Taranto
- Apulia geography stubs
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