Mottola
Encyclopedia
Mottola is a town and comune
in the province of Taranto
, in the Puglia region of southeast Italy
.
It is situated on a hill (387 metres AMSL
) in the sub-region of Murgia
. It is also called "The Ionian Spy" for its strategic geographical position. From various points of the town all Taranto's Gulf
can be admired.
The economy is based mostly on agriculture and food production (olives, wine, citrus fruits, vegetables). Tourism and manufacture of wooden fixtures are also developed.
until 1818, when lost the title for Castellaneta
. In 1653 with the notary act of Giovanni Angelo Durante di Napoli, the feud was sold to Francesco Caracciolo, the Martina Franca
's duke. In the Bourbon Restoration
period, Mottola follow the Italian unification
events, suffering the subversive actions made by "Briganti
".
, with the greatest amounts of precipitation mainly occurring from mid-October to mid-April; any precipitation is sparse during summer and it generally takes the form of showers and/or thunderstorms. The average temperature varies from a low of 5°C in January to a high of 28°C in July and August. The wettest months are December and March averaging between 15 to 20 cm. Fog is highly usual in the town centre but it is less frequent in the outskirts, specially in the south part. Spring and fall (autumn) are considered ideal seasons for sightseeing and all kinds of outdoor activities. Summers can be particularly hot.
s, celebrating the Passion
, made by hooded faithfuls called "paranze" in the last days of the week. The processions take place through the streets of the historical centre and end in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel church, that is also the organizer church.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Taranto
Province of Taranto
The Province of Taranto is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Taranto.It has an area of 2,437 km², and a total population of 580,588...
, in the Puglia region of southeast Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
It is situated on a hill (387 metres AMSL
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
) in the sub-region of Murgia
Murgia
Murgia is a sub-region of Apulia in southern Italy, corresponding to a karst topographic plateau of rectangular shape, occupying the central area of the region. The name stems from the Latin murex, meaning "sharp stone"....
. It is also called "The Ionian Spy" for its strategic geographical position. From various points of the town all Taranto's Gulf
Gulf of Taranto
The Gulf of Taranto is a gulf of the Ionian Sea, in southern Italy.The Gulf of Taranto is almost square, 140 km long and wide, and is delimited by the capes Santa Maria di Leuca and Colonna...
can be admired.
The economy is based mostly on agriculture and food production (olives, wine, citrus fruits, vegetables). Tourism and manufacture of wooden fixtures are also developed.
History
The Mottola's hill was inhabited since prehistory. In fact, in 1899 where founded a bronze closet of that historical period. The town was destroyed in 1102 after a popular rebellion to the chancellor Muarcaldo. In Medieval age, Mottola became a "castellum" and was governed by catapan Basilio Boioannes. During the Norman domination period, the town became a DioceseDiocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
until 1818, when lost the title for Castellaneta
Castellaneta
Castellaneta is a city and comune in the province of Taranto, in the Puglia region of Southern Italy, about 40 km from Taranto. Located in a territory spanning from the Murgia to the Ionian Sea, characterized by numerous gravina ravines, it is part of the Comunità Montana della Murgia...
. In 1653 with the notary act of Giovanni Angelo Durante di Napoli, the feud was sold to Francesco Caracciolo, the Martina Franca
Martina Franca
Martina Franca is a town and comune in the province of Taranto, Apulia , Italy. It is the second most populated city of the province after Taranto....
's duke. In the Bourbon Restoration
Bourbon Restoration
The Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...
period, Mottola follow the Italian unification
Italian unification
Italian unification was the political and social movement that agglomerated different states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of Italy in the 19th century...
events, suffering the subversive actions made by "Briganti
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
".
Geography and climate
Mottola enjoys a typical mediterranean climateMediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
, with the greatest amounts of precipitation mainly occurring from mid-October to mid-April; any precipitation is sparse during summer and it generally takes the form of showers and/or thunderstorms. The average temperature varies from a low of 5°C in January to a high of 28°C in July and August. The wettest months are December and March averaging between 15 to 20 cm. Fog is highly usual in the town centre but it is less frequent in the outskirts, specially in the south part. Spring and fall (autumn) are considered ideal seasons for sightseeing and all kinds of outdoor activities. Summers can be particularly hot.
Main sights
- The cathedralCathedralA cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
(13th century, enlarged in 1507) and the Byzantine cave churches, dates from the medieval period, among which the most important are Saint Nicholas, Saint Margaret and Saint Angelus situated in frazione Casalrotto. - The town has a particularly beautiful "old city" surrounded by stone walls with prominent Baroque gates leading to piazzas and winding, tiny streets. The Piazza XX Settembre is the largest open space in the city, with a greenspace in the center of a largely rectangular place.
- In the historic centre are present the Saint Mary ex-cathedral (12th century), Our Lady of Mount Carmel church (17th century), Immaculate church (17th century), Saint Mary of Constantinople chapel (16th century), and a part of Hellenistic wall (6th-4th century BCE). At the end of historic part of the town, is located a roundabout, from which can be viewed the landscape of the western part of the Province of TarantoProvince of TarantoThe Province of Taranto is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Taranto.It has an area of 2,437 km², and a total population of 580,588...
.
Archaeological sites
Mottola country is rich of karsts called "gravine", usually situated in the south side of the town. The most important are Forcella, San Biagio, di Capo Gavito and Petruscio. The last one is certainly the most predominant.The Holy Week Rites
There are numerous religious events during the Holy Week in Mottola. These events are characterized by typical processionProcession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
s, celebrating the Passion
Passion (Christianity)
The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion...
, made by hooded faithfuls called "paranze" in the last days of the week. The processions take place through the streets of the historical centre and end in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel church, that is also the organizer church.
Famous natives of Mottola
- Nicola LegrottaglieNicola LegrottaglieNicola Legrottaglie is an Italian footballer who plays for Calcio Catania in Serie A, as a central defender.-Early years:...
(footballer, born 1976) - Luigi MastrangeloLuigi MastrangeloLuigi "Gigi" Mastrangelo is an Italian volleyball player. Standing at 202 cm, he plays as middle hitter/blocker for Stamplast Martina Franca.He played 212 times for the Italian national volleyball team...
(volleyball player, born 1975) - Giovanni D'Onghia (volleyball coach, born 1963)
- Oronzo Mario Scarano (composer, 1847–1901)