Molfetta is a city and comune of the Bari province in the southern Italian region of Puglia, 41°12N 16°36E, on the Adriatic coast, at sea-level. It is 25 km (15 mi) WNW of Bari.
It has a well restored old city, and its own dialect.
History
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.
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.
External links
- Comune di Molfetta, the city homepage on the Web (in Italian)
- Quindici Giorni, web site of one of the most popular city journals (in Italian)