Nardò
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Comune di Nardò | |
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 Municipal coat of arms |
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| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Puglia |
| Province | Lecce (LE) |
| Mayor | Antonio Vaglio |
| Elevation | 45 m (148 ft) |
| Area | 190 km² (73 sq mi) |
| Population (as of December 31, 2004) | |
| - Total | 30,807 |
| - Density | 162/km² (420/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | |
| Gentilic | Neretini |
| Dialing code | 0833 |
| Postal code | 73048 |
| Frazioni | Boncore, Cenate, Pagani, Santa Maria al Bagno, Santa Caterina, Sant'Isidoro, Villaggio Resta, Torre Inserraglio, Torre Uluzzo, Portoselvaggio, Palude del Capitano |
| Patron | St. Gregory the Illuminator |
| - Day | February 20 |
| Website: www.comune.nardo.le.it | |
Nardò (Greek: Naridos) is a small town and comune in the southern Italian region of Apulia, in the province of Lecce.
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[edit] History
Traces of human presence in the area dates from Palaeolithic times. The settlement was founded by the Messapi around the year 1000 BC. The Romans conquered it in 269 BC and built the Via Traiana through it. After the fall of the Western Empire it was under the Byzantines and the Lombards.
In 1055 the Normans captured Nardò. Their heirs were ousted by the Angevines in 1266. In 1497 the Aragonese gave it to Andrea Matteo Acquaviva, whose son Belisario was the first Duke of Nardò, and promoted the Renaissance in the city.
In 1647 the city rebelled against the Spanish domination, but the viceroyal troops suppressed the riot with heavy terms.
[edit] Main sights
This Baroque town in the heart of the Salento subpeninsula of the heel of Italy extending southeast between the Ionian and Adriatic Sea, has landscapes considered to be among the most beautiful in Italy, baroque monuments, baroque churches and masserie (typical ancient fortified farmhouses). The coast has sandy and rocky sections, but allows some lovely views of the Natural Park of Portoselvaggio. Its territory includes 34 km of Ionian Sea coast with ancient fishermen villages: Santa Maria al Bagno, Santa Caterina and Santo Isidoro.
- The Piazza Salandra is the center of the town.
- The notable Cathedral, built around 1000 AD. It has a 18th century façade, but the interior has maintained the Romanesque-Gothic original appearance.
- Church of San Domenico (16th-18th centuries). It has a highly decorated façade with Baroque caryatids, columns and vegetable figures.
- Chiesa del Carmine, with a fine Renaissance portal.
- Church of San Cosimo (1618)
- Temple of the Osanna (1603)
[edit] Nardò Ring
The ring located in Nardò is used as a test track for high speeds. At 12.5 km (just under 7.8 miles) and perfectly round, it is banked at such a degree that a driver often need not turn the wheel while driving. In essence, the driver drives as if in a straight line. Some extremely fast cars do require the steering wheel to be turned for example the Koenigsegg CCR which set a speed record for a production car at the Nardò Ring with the wheel at 30°. This record has since been beaten by the Bugatti Veyron, however the CCR holds the speed record for the Ring. For safety reasons, motorcycles are not permitted. There has only been one fatality at the ring.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- "Nardò ring" Satellite picture by Google Maps
- Views of the Baroque land of Nardò
- Useful information and contacts about Nardò
