Barocco Pugliese

Martina Franca
Date: dal 01/01/2010 al 31/12/2010

The seven hundred years since the foundation of Martina Franca

On 12th August 1310, Filippo I d’Angiò, prince of Taranto, founded the hamlet of Franca Martina. Seven hundred years of history and culture have transformed a small, medieval hamlet, from just a few shacks disseminated around the primitive place of worship dedicated to San Martino, into a magnificent, Baroque town, where the architecture and the figurative arts have made its profile even more refined.
It all started in 1310, when Filippo I d’Angiò decided to institutionalize a small settlement on the old hill of San Martino, and recognized it as the hamlet of Franca Martina. What the Prince really did, was to inject new vitality into a pre-existing hamlet. As a matter of fact, an old historical document, dating back to the Swabian age, dated 1260 (Istrumentum executionis mandati regii), tells of the existence of a castrum Martinae (castle of Martina), built on a hill in the shelter of the old layout between the territory of Monopoli and the one of Taranto. The border between these territories corresponds today to the famous  ring and the old castrum roughly to the quarter of Montedoro.
So, when Filippo I d’Angiò became prince of Taranto in 1294, the castrum Martinae already existed, but it was in a state of neglect; hence the prince decided to give life to some political strategies, aimed at stimulating the development of the castrum. Thanks to these choices, in 1306, right in the middle of the Angevin age, the hamlet of Martina was already fenced off by walls, and governed by a university and by a captain. In order to encourage even more its development, the prince conceded some exemptions to the inhabitants of the hamlet. On 12th August 1310, Filippo I d’Angiò officially recognised this settlement with the name of casale della Franca Martina. The adjective franco, was a consequence of some exemptions (or franking), i.e. privileges granted by the prince to the inhabitant of the hamlet. These privileges mainly concerned the right to “pascere”, i.e. to graze freely in the surrounding areas, as well as legnare, i.e. to gather wood, and acquare, i.e. to water the kettle from the tanks. Furthermore, Filippo I d’Angiò recognised to the frank hamlet the perpetual state ownership, meaning that it would have always been under its own control, without ever having to grant it to any feudatory. Unfortunately, history followed other routes…

Info

Many festivals in honour of the seven hundred years or Martina Franca are expected for the year 2010, among which conferences, study days, and historical recollections.
The first date is set in Milan, on Sunday 10th January 2010, at the Circolo della Stampa, located in Corso Venezia no 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Here the convention "le città traino" (the driving force cities) will take place: MARTINA FRANCA”
The conference has been organized by the Associazione RegionalePugliesi di Milano, with the Patronage of the Municipality of Martina Franca, the Basilica of San Martino, and of the Festival of the Itria Valley. The introduction speech will be given by Mr Dino Abbascià, President of the Associazione Regionale Pugliesi di Milano. Speakers: the lawyer Agostino Picicco, monsignore Franco Semeraro, professor Franco Punzi, Mr Franco Presicci, and professor Francesco Lenoci.

PROGRAMMA 12 AGOSTO 2010

Piazza D’Angiò ore 18.00

Accoglienza da parte del sindaco di Martina Franca
 dei primi cittadini di Monopoli e Taranto – “città madri”
di Francavilla Fontana e di Noci – “città gemelle”
di Locorotondo – “città generatrice”

ore 18.30
Apposizione del cippo odonomastico a Filippo I D’Angiò
Corteo dei gonfaloni delle città
Via Sant’Eligio
Corso Messapia
Piazza XX Settembre

Cinema Teatro Verdi
Ore 19.00
Cerimonia Commemorativa del Settecentenario
“Una città – Un popolo – Un progetto”
Francesco Palazzo – Sindaco di Martina Franca
Testimonianze
Emilio Romani – Sindaco di Monopoli
Ippazio Stefano – Sindaco di Taranto
Vincenzo Della Corte – Sindaco di Francavilla Fontana
Pietro Liuzzi – Sindaco di Noci
Tommaso Scatigna – Vicesindaco f.f. di Locorotondo

“Memento Domine Civitatem Tuam”
Franco Semeraro – Arciprete di Martina Franca

“Lectio magistralis”
Cosimo Damiano Fonseca – Professore emerito Università di Bari – Accademico dei Lincei

“Promessa per il futuro”
Alunni di quarta elementare – Circolo Didattico Giovanni XXIII

Arco di Santo Stefano
Ore 20.30
Apposizione della lapide commemorativa in onore di Filippo I D’Angiò da parte dei sindaci delle città

Palazzo Ducale – Appartamento D’Avalos
Ore 21.00
Inaugurazione dell’Istituendo Museo Comunale Filippo I D’Angiò
Mostra di pittura: Martina ieri e oggi

Piazza XX Settembre
Ore 22.00
“Buon Compleanno Martina” live concert  a cura di “Engine Club”
 

 

Bibliography

Liuzzi G. (1990), il castrum martinae del 1260 e la rifondazione angioina, a cura della Rifelssioni Umanesimo della Pietra, Martina Franca (Ta).