Francavilla Fontana

Francavilla Fontana
Comune
Comune di Francavilla Fontana
250px
Francavilla Fontana Location of Francavilla Fontana in Italy
Coordinates:
Country	Italy
Region	Apulia
Province / Metropolitan city	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)
• 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: