Martano

Martano
—  Comune  —
Comune di Martano
The old city
Martano Location of Martano in Italy
Coordinates: 40°12′N 18°18′E / 40.2°N 18.3°E / 40.2; 18.3Coordinates: 40°12′N 18°18′E / 40.2°N 18.3°E / 40.2; 18.3
Country	Italy
Region	Puglia
Province	Lecce (LE)
Frazioni	None
Government
- Mayor	Massimo Coricciati
Area
- Total	21 km2 (8.1 sq mi)
Elevation	92 m (302 ft)
Population (December 31, 2004)
- Total	9,573
- Density	455.9/km2 (1,180.7/sq mi)
Demonym	Martanesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	73025
Dialing code	0836
Patron saint	Mother of the Assumption
Saint day	August 15
Website	Official website

Martano is a town and comune of 9,573 inhabitants in the province of Lecce in Apulia, Italy 20 km from Lecce and 18 km from Otranto. It is the biggest town of Grecìa Salentina, a Greek-speaking area where the elders can also speak an ancient dialect called griko.

Sights

The main attraction is the medieval castle in the old town centre, largely rebuilt in the 15th century retaining some features of the previous century, while the biggest churches are those devoted to the Mother of the Assumption and to Madonna del Rosario. The town also owns the highest menhir in Apulia (Santu Totaru menhir, 4.80 m) and an ancient Cistercians monastery devoted to the Mother of the Consolation.

City hall with monument of Salvatore Trinchese   Cistercians monastery

Famous people

The list of famous people whom Martano gave birth includes Giuseppe Grassi, who signed the Constitution of Italy in 1948, Salvatore Trinchese, marine biologist of the 19th century and Cosimo Moschettini, agricultural scientist of the Enlightenment.

Grecìa Salentina (Salentinian Greece)
Calimera | Castrignano de' Greci | Corigliano d'Otranto | Martano | Martignano | Melpignano | Soleto | Sternatia | Zollino