Nardò

Nardò
—  Comune  —
Comune di Nardò
18th century column in Piazza Salandra

Coat of arms
Nardò
Location of Nardò in Italy
Coordinates:
Country Italy
Region Puglia
Province Lecce (LE)
Frazioni Boncore, Cenate, Pagani, Palude del Capitano, Portoselvaggio, Roccacannuccia, Santa Caterina, Sant'Isidoro, Santa Maria al Bagno, Torre Inserraglio, Torre Uluzzo, Villaggio Resta
Government
 • Mayor Antonio Vaglio
Area
 • Total 190 km2 (73.4 sq mi)
Elevation 45 m (148 ft)
Population (November 2008)
 • Total 31,185
 • Density 164.1/km2 (425.1/sq mi)
Demonym Neretini
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 73048
Dialing code 0833
Patron saint St. Gregory the Illuminator
Saint day February 20
Website Official website

Nardò is a town and comune of 31,185 inhabitants and comune in the southern Italian region of Apulia, in the province of Lecce.

Contents

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.

Geography

Civil parishes

The town counts 11 civil parishes (frazioni): Boncore, Cenate, Pagani, Palude del Capitano, Portoselvaggio, Roccacannuccia, Santa Caterina, Sant'Isidoro, Santa Maria al Bagno, Torre Inserraglio, Torre Uluzzo and Villaggio Resta.

Nardò DOC

The area around Nardò produces red and rose Italian DOC wines. The grapes are limited to a harvest yield of 18 tonnes/ha with the finished needing a minimum alcohol level of 12.5%. The wines are primarily composed of 80-100% Negroamaro with Montepulciano and Malvasia Nera permitted to fill in the remaining 20%.[1]

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.

Photogallery

Sister cities

References

  1. ^ P. Saunders Wine Label Language pg 186 Firefly Books 2004 ISBN 1552977200

External links