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Welcome to this site |
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Historic
outlines |
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THE “FRANCA”(FREE) MARTINA |
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According to local historians, Martina Franca
origins date back to the X cent. when a group of refugees,
escaping from Taranto because of the Saracens’invasions, founded
a little village on San Martino mountain.
The juridical foundation of the town, instead, dates back to the
fourteenth century, when it was enlarged by Filippo d’Angiò ,Prince
of Taranto, who granted some exemptions to the inhabitants. |
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This is why the town is called “Franca” (free).
The name “Martina” instead comes from San Martino, the patron
saint of French Chivalry.
Filippo I d’Angiò invented the town
coat of arms. Around
the town they built a wall and some
defence towers, of
which you can still see: Porta Stracciata (Torn Door);
S.Francesco Door; Carmine Door and S.Stefano Arch..
In the XV cent. Martina Franca became an Aragonese feud and then
in the XVI cent. it was a dukedom of the Caracciolo family, a
noble napolitan family. In the XVII century, Petracone V
Caracciolo built the Ducal Palace, on the remains of the ancient
Orsini castle. In 1646 the inhabitants of Martina, led by a
blacksmith known as “Iron Chief”, rose against the Caracciolo
family, but it kept on running their feud until 1827.
In the XVIII cent. the town reached its magnificence; there was
an increase in the economy, expecially due to agriculture and
breeding, and there was an urban settlement, that gave a new and
extraordinary aspect to the old town centre. In 1799, during the
Republican risings, this town adopted liberal ideas, until 1861
(the unity of Italy). |
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