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{{distinguish|Mofletta}}

'''Molfetta''' is a city and [[comune]] of the [[Province of Bari|Bari province]] in the southern [[Italy|Italian]] region of [[Puglia]], 41°12N 16°36E, on the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] coast, at sea-level. It is 25 km (15 mi) WNW of [[Bari]].

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}

{{Infobox Italian comune

| name = Molfetta

| official_name = Città di Molfetta

| native_name =

| image_skyline = Porto di Molfetta.jpg

| imagesize =

| image_alt =

| image_caption = Molfetta Harbour

| image_shield = Molfetta-Stemma.svg

| shield_alt = Coat of arms of Molfetta

| image_map = Map of comune of Molfetta (metropolitan city of Bari, region Apulia, Italy).svg

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Molfetta within the Province of Bari

| pushpin_label_position = bottom

| pushpin_map_alt =

| coordinates = {{coord|41|12|N|16|36|E|display=inline}}

| coordinates_footnotes =

| region = [[Apulia]]

| metropolitan_city = [[Metropolitan City of Bari|Bari]] (BA)

| frazioni =

| mayor_party =

| mayor = Tommaso Minervini

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_km2 = 58.26

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 57 329

| population_as_of = 31 December 2022

| pop_density_footnotes =

| population_demonym = Molfettesi

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m = 18

| twin1 =

| twin1_country =

|istat=072029| saint = San Corrado di Baviera, Madonna dei Martiri

| day = 9 February, 8 September

| postal_code = 70056

| area_code = 080

| website = {{official website|http://www.comune.molfetta.ba.it}}

| footnotes =

}}

[[File:Molfetta - Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta.JPG|thumb|[[Molfetta Cathedral]], or Church of ''Santa Maria Assunta'']]

'''Molfetta''' ({{IPA|it|molˈfetta|lang}}; [[Bari dialect|Molfettese]]: {{lang|nap|Melfétte}}) is a town located in the northern side of the [[Metropolitan City of Bari]], [[Apulia]], [[southern Italy]].

It has a well restored old city, and its own [[dialect]].

== History ==

The earliest local signs of permanent habitation are at the [[Neolithic]] site of Pulo, one of the most important such sites in southern Italy. The origins of the city can be traced to a small fishing port; antique graves testify to a fisherman's village in the fourth century BC. The position of the future city offered a valid landing to the commerce of [[Ruvo di Puglia|Roman Rubo]]. The first indication of a [[toponym]] on the coast between ''Turenum'' ([[Trani, Apulia|Trani]]) and ''Natiolum'' ([[Giovinazzo]]) is in the ''[[Antonine Itinerary|Itinerarium Provinciarum Antonini Augusti]]'', edited from a third-century core. The place denominated ''Respa'' was probably a wrong transcript of the toponym ''Melpha'', referring to a small village of fishermen.

The first official document that mentions the city dates to November 925; it documents a ''civitas'' denominated Melfi, situated on a peninsula named Sant'Andrea. The city developed under [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] dominion, and was later conquered by the [[Lombards]], who included it in the [[Duchy of Benevento]]. The city repelled repeated assaults by the [[Emirate of Bari]]. As an independent seaport, Molfetta traded with other Mediterranean markets, including [[Venice]], [[Alexandria]], [[Constantinople]], Syria, [[Amalfi]] and [[Dubrovnik|Ragusa]].

The origins of the city, traces back to the [[Romans]] according to some sources. Such affirmations are few document. Some recoveries of graves and furnishings already date the existence of a village of fishermen in the IV century BC This hypothesis is likely in as much as, for its position the city offered a valid landing to the commerces of Rubo ([[Ruvo di Puglia]]). The first indication of a site place between Turenum ([[Trani]]) and Natiolum ([[Giovinazzo]]) is mentioned on the Itinerarium Provinciarum Antonini August, dated around the [[217 BC]]. Such place was denominated Respa, probable wrong transcript of the toponymy Melpha. It's obviate that had to treat of a small village of fishermen. The first official document that quotes the city traces back to the November of the AD [[925]]. Such document certifies the existence of a civitas, denominated Melfi, situated on a peninsula named Sant'Andrea. The city developed under the [[Byzantine]] dominion.

To the beginning of the XI century the [[Normans]] arrived and the city succeeded in preserving a discreet autonomy that facilitated the development of itself. It was in this period that the city became protagonist in the commerces with the east. The transit of the pilgrims toward the [[Holy Land]], on the occasion of the [[Crusades]] and the standstill of the same near the Santa Maria dei Martiri hospital permitted the city assuming importance at European level. Was one of the so many pilgrims Conrad of Bayern, that enamoured of the city became the Protecting Saint of Molfetta. During the domination [[Angevin]] the city succeeded in remaining autonomous. The troubles came with the arrival of the Aragonesis. There was an enough turbulent period of struggles between French, Spanish and Italian. These wars provoked death and destruction in the whole south of Italy with events that would have marked its history forever. One of these is the Sack of Molfetta, happened in the days 18 and 19 July of [[1529]], episode that for a long period prevented the economical rebirth of the city.

At the beginning of the 11th century the [[Italo-Normans|Normans]] arrived, and the autonomy that the city preserved helped foster its development as both a commercial port with the east, and as port of embarcation for pilgrims heading to the [[Holy Land]]. The [[Crusades]] permitted the city to assume a wider importance. Among the many pilgrims was [[Conrad of Bavaria]], who was so enamoured of the city that he became venerated as San Corrado, the protecting saint of Molfetta. During the [[Capetian House of Anjou|Angevin]] dominion the city succeeded in remaining autonomous. However, the arrival of the Aragonese kingdom to Southern Italy, spurred turbulent struggles between French, Spanish and Italians. These wars provoked death and destruction in the whole south of Italy: the [[Sack of Molfetta]] at the hands of the French, 18–19 July 1529, was an episode that stalled the economic rebirth of the city.

== Famous people from Molfetta ==

Personalities from Molfetta include the anti-fascist politic and writer [[Gaetano Salvemini]], the painter [[Corrado Giaquinto]] the sculptor [[Giulio Cozzoli]] and the popular italian singer [[Caparezza]].

In February 2006, Molfetta hosted International Youth Parliament, an event which took place the previous year in Canterbury.

== External links ==

*[http://www.comune.molfetta.ba.it Comune di Molfetta,] the city homepage on the Web (in Italian)

*[http://www.quindici-molfetta.it Quindici Giorni,] web site of one of the most popular city journals (in Italian)

==Geography==

Located in the north-western corner of its province, near the borders with the [[Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani|one of Barletta-Andria-Trani]], and by the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic Coast]], Molfetta borders with the municipalities of [[Bisceglie]] (BT), [[Giovinazzo]], [[Terlizzi]] and [[Ruvo di Puglia]].<ref>{{OSM|r|41130|Molfetta}}</ref> The town is 27&nbsp;km from [[Andria]], 31 from [[Barletta]] and 34 from [[Bari]].

==Main sights==

{{Italy-geo-stub}}

*''Il Pulo'' is one of the most important [[Neolithic]] sites of southern Italy. It is a circular cave {{convert|23|m|ft}} deep with grottoes and remains of old constructions.

*The Old Cathedral (''[[:it:Duomo di San Corrado]]'') was built in the twelfth–thirteenth centuries in Apulian-Romanesque style, using local stone on a [[basilica]] plan, a nave with two aisles divided by four central cross-shaped pilasters. The floor has two domes. From the apse area rise two {{convert|20|m|ft|adj=on}} towers, one of which acted as watchtower, the other has the usual [[campanile]]. The interior has some notable religious furnishings from the sixteenth century.

*Several watchtowers, such as the ''Torre Calderina'' (fifteenth century) on the seaside, and the ''Torrione Passari'', inglobated in the town's walls.

*The [[Molfetta Cathedral|New Cathedral]], or church of ''S. Maria Assunta in Cielo'', was built by the [[Jesuits]] from 1610. It houses the remains of the city's patron, ''San Corrado of Bavaria'', in a silver reliquary bust of the saint (seventeenth century) by [[G. Todaro]].

*The church of ''San Bernardino da Siena'' (1451, rebuilt in 1585) includes a triptych by [[Duccio d'Andrea]] (fifteenth century) and other later paintings. Notable is the Renaissance choir. The annexed convent is now the Palazzo Civico (town hall).

*The church of ''Santo Stefano'', built from 1286, but with a Renaissance stone façade added in 1586.

*''Palazzo Giovene'' is a 16th-century palace, now used as Town Hall. It has a notable Renaissance style portal.

*The church of ''Santa Maria Consolatrice degli Afflitti'', simply known as Chiesa del Purgatorio, dating from 1643 and consecrated in 1667. The façade has statues representing Sts. Stephen, Peter, Paul and Lawrence and, on the two side summits, those of St. Joaquim and St. Anne. The interior houses paintings by [[Bernardo Cavallino]] and native-son [[Corrado Giaquinto]].

*The church of ''San Pietro Apostolo'', simply called "San Pietro's Church", just existing in the twelfth century, but with the actual [[Baroque]] façade and bell tower, situated in the old town, at the begin of the street of the some name, near the Municipio Square.

*The ''Temple of Calvary'', a small Neo-Gothic construction built in 1856 and designed by the local architect [[Corrado De Judicibus]].

*Two km outside the city in the direction of [[Bisceglie]], is the basilica-sanctuary of the ''Madonna dei Martiri''. The current nave of the church is partially built over the old eleventh-century church, of which only a dome and the underlying structure remain, in today's altar area. Annexed is the Crusaders Hospital, also from the eleventh century. The basilica conserves an image that was a votive gift of some Crusaders in 1188.

* The [[Molfetta Lighthouse]] on the eastern pier; still active today.

== People ==

[[Category:Coastal towns of Puglia]]

Personalities from Molfetta include Cardinal [[Angelo Amato]], [[Rossella Biscotti]] (artist), [[Luigi Capotorti]] (19th-century composer), [[Leonardo Andriani]] (immigrant), [[Corrado Giaquinto]] (Rococo painter), [[Domenico Leccisi]] (notorious for stealing [[Death of Benito Mussolini|Mussolini's corpse]]), [[Riccardo Muti]] (conductor), [[Girolamo Minervini]] (assassinated magistrate), [[Caparezza]] (rapper), [[Gaetano Salvemini]] (anti-fascist politician and writer), and [[Vitangelo Spadavecchia]] (goalkeeper).<!--the following are redlinks: the sculptor [[Giulio Cozzoli]], who was a big professor in [[Naples]]' Academy of A rts and the famous painter [[Ignazio Gadaleta]], teacher in [[Milan]]+ Academy of Brera.-->

==Migration==

[[de:Molfetta]]

During the times of the mass migration of Italians, mainly following [[World War II]], many Molfettese residents migrated to Fremantle in Western Australia and to a town in [[South Australia]] called [[Port Pirie]]. The culture of Molfetta is celebrated in Fremantle and Port Pirie. Officials of both Port Pirie and Molfetta have close links today. In the United States, many Molfettese immigrants settled in the city of [[Hoboken, New Jersey]], where a substantial enclave still exists today.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historelli.com |title=Historelli |quote=The American Story of Molfettese Immigration}}</ref>

[[it:Molfetta]]

[[pt:Molfetta]]

==See also==

*[[Molfetta railway station]]

*[[Molfetta Lighthouse]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{commons category|Molfetta}}

* [https://esploradati.istat.it/databrowser/#/it/dw/categories All italian commons data (Population) - ISTAT] {{in lang|it}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110804044614/http://www.comune.molfetta.ba.it/ Official website] {{in lang|it}}

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10434a.htm ''Catholic Encyclopedia'':] "Molfetta, Terlizzi and Giovinazzo"

{{Metropolitan City of Bari}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Molfetta| ]]

[[Category:Coastal towns in Apulia]]

[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Adriatic Sea]]