Manduria

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Manduria is a city and comune of Apulia, Italy, in the province of Taranto. With c. 30,000 inhabitants, it is located 35 km east of Taranto, and 14 km north of the coast.

History

It was an important stronghold of the Messapii against Tarentum. Archidamus III, king of Sparta, fell beneath its walls in 338 BC, while leading the army of the latter (Plutarch calls the place Mandonion). It revolted to Hannibal, but was stormed by the Romans in 209 BC. Pliny the Elder mentions a spring here which never changed its level, and may still be seen.

The town was destroyed by the Saracens in the 10th century; the inhabitants settled themselves on the site of the present town, at first called Casalnuovo, which resumed the old name in 1700.

Main sights

The modern city is close to the site of the ancient Manduria, considerable remains of the defences of which can still be seen; they consisted of a double line of wall built of rectangular blocks of stone, without mortar, and with a broad ditch in front. Some tombs with gold ornaments were found in 1886.

The symbol of city is a pit with an almond tree, which was mentioned by Pliny the Elder. Other sights include:

• Chiesa Matrice (or Collegiata) of medieval origin but renovated in the 16th century.
• Church of San Pietro Mandurino, probably a Hellenistic hall tomb adapted as church in the 8th-9th century AD.
• Church of the Holy Trinity (11th/12th centuries). It has a façade with three Renaissance portals and a rose window. The 15th century bell tower is decorated by large masks of unknown origin.
• Church of SS. Rosario.
• Church of SS. Immacolata.
• Church of Santa lucia (1540)
• Medieval ghetto.
• Castle, with was the seat of the Imperiali princes from 1719.

References

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Last updated on Friday February 01, 2008 at 15:04:23 PST (GMT -0800)
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