Francavilla Fontana
| Francavilla Fontana | |
|---|---|
| Comune | |
| Comune di Francavilla Fontana | |
 | |
  Francavilla Fontana Location of Francavilla Fontana in Italy | |
| Coordinates: 40°32′N 17°35′E / 40.533°N 17.583°ECoordinates: 40°32′N 17°35′E / 40.533°N 17.583°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region |
 Apulia |
| Province | Brindisi (BR) |
| Frazioni | Bax Capece |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Vincenzo Della Corte |
| Area | |
| • Total | 175 km2 (68 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 142 m (466 ft) |
| Population (31 December 2008)[1] | |
| • Total | 36,603 |
| • Density | 210/km2 (540/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Francavillesi |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 72021 |
| Dialing code | 0831 |
| Patron saint | Madonna della Fontana |
| Saint day | September 14 |
| Website | Official website |
Francavilla Fontana is a town and comune (municipality) in the province of Brindisi and region of Apulia, in southern Italy. And it's also called the town of the "Imperiali", after the Imperiali, a family of feudal lords who ruled the town from the end of 16th century until the 18th century.
Geography
Francavilla is located in the Altosalento, on the last Murge's hills, and it is equidistant, about 35 kilometres (22 mi), from Taranto and Brindisi.
History
The name Francavilla has French-Norman origins: "Franca" (tax-free) and "villa" (town). The specification Fontana ("fountain") alludes to a vision of the Virgin Mary witnessed by Prince Filippo d'Angiò, who hence declaring the town a tax-free haven, according to the local legend.
Main sights
- The massive square Castle (Palazzo Imperiali) of the Imperiali family, to whom, with Oria, it was sold by S. Carlo Borromeo in the 16th century for 40,000 ounces of gold, which he distributed in one day to poor and infected with the plague people in Milan.
- Mother Church, built from 1743 over a former Angevine construction.
- Torre dell'Orologio (watchtower), built in 1750.
Twin towns
San Giovanni al Natisone, Italy
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
External links
"Francavilla Fontana". Brindisi Virtual Tour (in Italian). Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2008.