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Martina Franca, a pleasant little town on a human dimension, lies among the enchanting scenery of the Valle d'ltria in the highest part of the Murge, 431 metres above sea level, mid-way between the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea. The town arose in 1310, founded by the Prince of Taranto, Philippe I of Anjou. In this perfect symbiosis of different civilisations (Longobard, Byzantine and Angevin), every corner offers memories of a past which is not only history, but also art, folklore and traditions handed down with love. As soon as we enter the old town centre we are enveloped in an unreal. magic atmosphere: the streets, lanes, flights of rough stairs, even the windows take us back to a moment that is far back in time, yet strangely close if we consider how well kept everything is. Martina Franca is the triumph of Baroque, but in a very particular form: a light and sober "Barochetto" to which the local craftsmen have given their personal contribution with characteristic motifs, such as the arches of the doorways, the wrought iron galleries, the ornamental columns of the balconies, the decorative torches on the verandas, palazzi and arches. This style triumphs in the Palazzo Ducale, built in 1668 by the Duke Petracone V Caracciolo on the remains of the old castle of Raimondello Orsini. It is an important work, inspired by the style of the sumptuous palaces in Rome, with 380 rooms and three precious halls (dedicated to Arcadia, Myth and the Bible), richly frescoed by Carella. It was intended to symbolise the power of the noble family, not only as a physical presence but above all as a symbol of greatness and political and economic power. Magnificence and splendour are also to be seen in the many fine buildings where the art of stone-cutting and wrought iron combine to create an identity whose charisma cannot be denied. Another heritage of considerable artistic and architectural value is to be found in the many churches both inside and around the town, where the devotion and religious spirit of the people of Martina are expressed in the precise and decorative art of building. Here we find majestic facades with recessed and projecting features that play with space and superb aisles with finely decorated stone altars, showing all the skill of the virtuoso. Other typical features of this territory are the farmhouses, simple and functional structures, surrounded by old oaks and holm oaks. The economy of the farms was based mainly on sowable land and pastures, and particularly on the breeding of horse and donkeys, with fine stock exported all over the world. There are over fifty hectares of woods full of unspoilt nature: an extraordinary ecological heritage where we find the last specimen of Macedonian oak in the whole Italy. Tradition, folklore, uses and customs: the historic memory of the people is jealously guarded and handed down from one generation to the next, preserving its identity and characteristics. New and old live in perfect symbiosis, not only at artistic level, but also in the fields of culture and music, in which the Festival of the Valle d'Itria has now won international fame. Peaks of enormous prestige have been achieved in the art of bel canto and in the economy, as shown by the flourishing textile industry and donkey and horse breeding. In the local cuisine, the old flavours typical of peasant culture are resumed and enhanced with all their genuine characteristics. Martina Franca: a town where the sacred, ancestral sense of hospitality, friendship and cordiality are inestimable values in the civilization of every people. |
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