Massafra

Last updated
Massafra
Griko: Messaphros
Città di Massafra
Castello di Massafra.jpg
Flag of Massafra.svg
Massafra-Stemma.svg
Location of Massafra
Massafra
Italy provincial location map 2016.svg
Red pog.svg
Massafra
Location of Massafra in Italy
Italy Apulia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Massafra
Massafra (Apulia)
Coordinates: 40°35′N17°7′E / 40.583°N 17.117°E / 40.583; 17.117
Country Italy
Region Apulia
Province Taranto (TA)
Frazioni Cernera, Chiatona, Citignano, Marina di Ferrara
Government
  MayorFrancesco Stasi
Area
[1]
  Total
125 km2 (48 sq mi)
Elevation
110 m (360 ft)
Population
 (31 October 2017) [2]
  Total
32,872
  Density260/km2 (680/sq mi)
Demonym Massafresi
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
74016
Dialing code 099
Website Official website

Massafra is a town and comune in the province of Taranto in the Apulia region of southeast Italy.

Contents

History

According to some hypotheses, [3] 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 succeeded by the Carmignano and the Imperiale.

Main sights

Notable people

References

  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
  3. Giuseppe Blandamura, Choerades Insulae, Taranto, Tipografia Arcivescovile, 1925.