Martina Franca
The foundation of the village dates back to 1300, when the village was enlarged by Filippo D'Anjou, Prince of Taranto, which to favor the appropriation, granted to the inhabitants of deductibles
A special feature that gave rise to the name of the city, called "Franca" for the privilege granted to its inhabitants and "Martina" in honor of St. Martin, patron of the French Cavalry.
The city now has about 50 thousand inhabitants, and it is an important industrial sector in the textile and agro-food, related to farming activities. Martina Franca is also a very popular tourist destination, especially on days that annually takes place the prestigious musical event of the Festival of the Itria Valley.
The foundation of the village dates back to 1300, when the village was enlarged by Filippo D'Anjou, Prince of Taranto, which to promote the The visit takes place within the walls of the Angevin , passing through the ancient gates and penetrating through the streets of the charming old quarter with beautiful monuments, palaces, churches and squares, Baroque and rococo.
You can start from eighteenth-century Piazza Roma, adorned at the center from the Fountain of the Dolphins, where stands the eighteenth-century Palazzo Ducale imposing façade in the typical baroque style of this area; The building now houses, in the elegant frescoed rooms, City Hall and the Museum of Pianelle, that preserves evidence of the environmental heritage and is home to scientific conferences.
Valuable is the church of San Vito dei Greci, in via Ciaia, XI century, with rustication facade ends with a bell tower.
In the locality of Masseria Vecchia Badessa archaeological investigations have documented attendance since the Bronze Age, and revealed the remains of a large rectangular building, of which are preserved, at foundation level, three peripheral sides, dated to the fourth century. a.C., on the basis of ceramic materials unearthed.
Through the arch of St. Anthony, proceed on Corso Vittorio Emanuele and paying attention to historical palaces facing it, It reaches the St. Martins, the symbol of Baroque building Martina.
The church, dedicated to the patron saint of the city, from the second half of the eighteenth century and was built on an ancient Romanesque collegiate baroque style by the famous Milanese architect Giovanni Mariani: It has an elegant façade with portal adorned by a sculpted group representing the saint and a Latin cross inside a nave richly decorated with sculptures, polychrome marble and silver fittings.
You left of the church you can admire the Palace of the Court and the nearby Clock Tower, both achievements of the mid-eighteenth century.
Also worth visiting the nearby Church of S. Domenico (mid-eighteenth century), built on a previous Romanesque building dedicated to St. Peter, with marked elevation in two orders by pilasters and perfected by capitals embellished with caryatids.
Leaving the old town of Carmine,, not before a stop to a terrace that offers a chance to enjoy the view of the valley, You reach the Church of the Carmine: built between 1727 and the 1758 in an elegant baroque style, preserves, among other works of artistic craftsmanship, a remarkable polychrome statue attributed to the sculptor Stefano da Putignano.
Gastronomy
In the city and in the immediate vicinity you can enjoy the delicious food and wine production, enjoy typical meat "to the stove" prepared by the different butchers in the city, or the typical capocollo martinese, washed down with white "Martina" D.O.C wine. Itria valley.
La Martina kitchen,indeed, It is the result of a perfect balance between the rural gastronomic traditions and the historical memory of a population, who did oil and wine the fundamental components of the art of dinner.
The agri-food is one of the most important productive sectors in the economy town.
The typical products of Martina, from cheese to salami (in particular capocollo), by wine from the bakery, oil and pasta, They are renowned and appreciated worldwide due to their quality and authenticity.
Recently, the City of Martina has joined the network of "Slow City" set up by the "Slow Food", association engaged in the exploitation of typical products of agricultural.
Among the local culinary delights awarded by the "Slow Food" special importance cover capocollo and ricotta forte that soon will become holders of its protection principals.
Many are the traditional sweets Martina products during the period of the holiday season (carteddete, purcidde, pettule, entreme of vicchie) and Easter (pucciatidde, cavaddistre, fecazzedde)
Bakery products: pane, frize and bagels
Martina A tradition says that the frize you may taste softened in warm water, with fresh tomato, oil, salt and oregano.
Broad beans and chicory
inevitable, Martina in kitchen, beans jokes (pureed with 1/4 of potatoes) accompanied by wild greens. The plate, which originally was to be done in the pot to cook on the grill of the fireplace, It is usually coupled with black and green olives chillies.
Orecchiette, chops and meatballs
Typical Apulian orecchiette, in Martina are usually prepared for Sunday lunch, combined with meatballs and chops (Veal rolls) sauce.
Fegatelli (gnummaridde)
A must in the culinary and wine tours Martina, the many butcher shops specializing in "ready cooker" service, allowing you to enjoy roasted meat mixture in a wood oven, freshly baked.
Events
The folklore in Martina is very varied and rich in striking events that trace the life of the peasants of yore. Many of these events have lost their true meaning, but continue to attract the curiosity of the city and especially of tourists. After the holiday season's first major appointment is that of the fair Candlemas (2 February) that lasts a whole day attracting visitors from every country in order to conclude a bargain.
During the period of Lent, walking through the old town, one can see the pupazze, calls quarantines, suspended by a thread, as if to recall the slow intercede with its privations of Lent. And again in the period of Lent brief moments of hilarity they were given by old saw in mid-Lent, tradition, which unfortunately has been lost, while, still remains the tradition of pignata which will be demonstrated by several restaurants between the notes of Pizzica - Pizzica and a good glass of wine.
Equally striking is the Easter week proposing the procession of the mysteries instituted way back in the eighteenth century. The patron saint, Saint martin, It is celebrated on November 11, day when it organizes a big fair and in summer, specifically the second Sunday of July, The city dresses up again to party with the rides and stalls of all kinds.
Martina Franca is also called the "Festival of the City of Valle d'Itria". With this sign, indeed, the city welcomes visitors who come all year round. Martina Franca has become the favorite destination of the specialized cultural tourism, combining routes to the internationally renowned show initiatives. His opera festival, indeed, It has established itself over 30 years, for the originality of the product works, for the majority of rare execution. This year will take place from 15 July to 2 August.