Foggia (, , ; nap, label=
Foggiano, Fògge ) is a city and former ''
comune
The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...
'' of
Apulia
it, Pugliese
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, in
Southern Italy
Southern Italy ( it, Sud Italia or ) also known as ''Meridione'' or ''Mezzogiorno'' (), is a macroregion of the Italian Republic consisting of its southern half.
The term ''Mezzogiorno'' today refers to regions that are associated with the pe ...
, capital of the
province of Foggia. In 2013, its population was 153,143. Foggia is the main city of a plain called
Tavoliere, also known as the "
granary of Italy".
History
The name "''Foggia''" (originally ''Focis'') probably derives from
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...
"''fovea''", meaning "''pit''", referring to the pits where wheat was stored. The name's etymology remains uncertain however, as it could as well stem from "''
Phocaea''", or possibly probably from the
Medieval Greek
Medieval Greek (also known as Middle Greek, Byzantine Greek, or Romaic) is the stage of the Greek language between the end of classical antiquity in the 5th–6th centuries and the end of the Middle Ages, conventionally dated to the Ottoman c ...
word for "''fire''", which is "''fotia''", as according to legend the original settlers of the 11th century AD were peasants, allegedly after having
iraculouslydiscovered there a panel portraying the
Madonna Nicopeia, on which three flames burnt.
The area had been settled since
Neolithic
The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several pa ...
times, and later on a
Daunian settlement known as
Arpi (in Greek ''Argos Hippium'' or ''Ἀργόριππα'') existed nearby, close to present-day . It was the largest city in ancient
Daunia. An anachronistic legend reported by
Pliny claimed that the Daunian city had been founded by
Diomedes
Diomedes (Jones, Daniel; Roach, Peter, James Hartman and Jane Setter, eds. ''Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary''. 17th edition. Cambridge UP, 2006.) or Diomede (; grc-gre, Διομήδης, Diomēdēs, "god-like cunning" or "advised by ...
following the
Trojan War
In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans ( Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta. The war is one of the most important events in Greek mythology and ...
.
However the first document attesting to the existence of the modern city dates to 1100, in the papal bull of
Pope Paschal II which mentions the church of ''Sancta Maria de Focis''. The area remained marshy and unhealthy until the late 11th century, when
Robert Guiscard
Robert Guiscard (; Modern ; – 17 July 1085) was a Norman adventurer remembered for the conquest of southern Italy and Sicily. Robert was born into the Hauteville family in Normandy, went on to become count and then duke of Apulia and Calab ...
directed draining the wetland, boosting the economic and social growth of the city. The city was the seat of
Henry, Count of Monte Sant'Angelo during the last twenty years of the 11th century. In the 12th century,
William II of Sicily
William II (December 115311 November 1189), called the Good, was king of Sicily from 1166 to 1189. From surviving sources William's character is indistinct. Lacking in military enterprise, secluded and pleasure-loving, he seldom emerged from his ...
built a cathedral here and further enlarged the settlement.
Frederick II had a palace built in Foggia in 1223, in which he often sojourned. He elected the city "Regalis Sedes Inclita Imperialis", the preferred seat of the Empire, as we can now read on the entrance epigraph of the remains of the imperial palace. It was also seat of his court and a ''studium'', including notable figures such as the mathematician and scholar
Michael Scot
Michael Scot ( Latin: Michael Scotus; 1175 – ) was a Scottish mathematician and scholar in the Middle Ages. He was educated at Oxford and Paris, and worked in Bologna and Toledo, where he learned Arabic. His patron was Frederick II o ...
, but little of it remains now. In 1447, King
Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso the Magnanimous (139627 June 1458) was King of Aragon and King of Sicily (as Alfonso V) and the ruler of the Crown of Aragon from 1416 and King of Naples (as Alfonso I) from 1442 until his death. He was involved with struggles to the ...
built a Custom Palace to tax the local sheep farmers. This caused a decline of the local economy and the progressive ruin of the land, which again became marshy. In
1456, an earthquake struck Foggia, followed by others in 1534,
1627 and 1731, the last destroying one third of the city. The
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a European dynasty of French origin, a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Navarre in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Spani ...
promoted a certain economic growth by boosting the cereal agriculture of Capitanata and rebuilding much of the settlement.
In the 19th century, Foggia received a railway station and important public monuments. The citizens also took part in the riots which led to the
annexation to Italy in 1861. By 1865, there was a definitive shift from the custom of sheep farming in favour of an agricultural economy.
The historical lack of water resources was solved with the construction of the
Apulian aqueduct in 1924, when Foggia was already an important hub between northern and southern Italy.
During World War II, Foggia was
heavily bombed by the Allied air forces for its important airfields and marshalling yards. After the
armistice of Cassibile
The Armistice of Cassibile was an armistice signed on 3 September 1943 and made public on 8 September between the Kingdom of Italy and the Allies during World War II.
It was signed by Major General Walter Bedell Smith for the Allies and Bri ...
on 8 September 1943, the town was briefly occupied by German troops in
Operation Achse. There was some fighting there during the
Allied invasion of Italy. In response to the Allied advance towards them, the German troops occupying Foggia abandoned the city on the 27th of September. By the 1st of October British troops had successfully occupied the city. In order to clear the Germans from the hills north and west of the Fogia plain and to reach the Vinchiaturo-Termoli road near the Biferno River, Britain's
General Montgomery
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, (; 17 November 1887 – 24 March 1976), nicknamed "Monty", was a senior British Army officer who served in the First World War, the Irish War of Independence and th ...
sent his
British XIII Corps beyond Foggia on a two division drive, the
78th Division (sometimes known as "the Battle Axe division") moved on the coastal road to
Termoli
Termoli ( Molisano: ''Térmëlë'') is a town and ''comune'' (municipality) on the south Adriatic coast of Italy, in the province of Campobasso, region of Molise. It has a population of around 32,000, having expanded quickly after World War II, ...
and the
1st Canadian Division
The 1st Canadian Division (French: ''1re Division du Canada'' ) is a joint operational command and control formation based at CFB Kingston, and falls under Canadian Joint Operations Command. It is a high-readiness unit, able to move on very short ...
struck inland through the mountains. British V Corps followed, protecting the west flank and the rear. The German 1st parachute division had largely withdrawn to the Biferno River near
Termoli
Termoli ( Molisano: ''Térmëlë'') is a town and ''comune'' (municipality) on the south Adriatic coast of Italy, in the province of Campobasso, region of Molise. It has a population of around 32,000, having expanded quickly after World War II, ...
and dug in. Based out of Foggia, the British launched
Operation Devon
Operation Devon was the codeword given to an amphibious landing by British Commandos at Termoli on the Adriatic coast of Italy during the Italian Campaign of World War II. It was launched on 3 October 1943, as part of the attack on the Volturno ...
and succeeded in dislodging the Nazi German forces from
Termoli
Termoli ( Molisano: ''Térmëlë'') is a town and ''comune'' (municipality) on the south Adriatic coast of Italy, in the province of Campobasso, region of Molise. It has a population of around 32,000, having expanded quickly after World War II, ...
. The
Foggia airfields were subsequently used by Allied fighter and bomber formations until the end of the war, mainly from the American
15th but also from the
12th Air Force
The Twelfth Air Force (12 AF; Air Forces Southern, (AFSOUTH)) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
The command is the air component to ...
, the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
and the
South African Air Force.
In 1959 and 2006, Foggia received, respectively, the gold medal for Civil and Military value for its role in World War II.
Geography
Climate
Foggia has a dry summer,
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, nota ...
''Csa''). Winter days are generally between 11 and 13 °C but can be as cool as single figures. Low temperatures are generally above freezing, but frosts are experienced a handful of times a year. Summers are very hot, with temperatures in July and August often reaching . Temperatures exceed a handful of times a decade. Extremes are on 8 January 1985 and - the highest temperature recorded in Italy and one of the highest recorded in Europe - on 25 June 2007.
Government
Main sights
* The
cathedral
A cathedral is a church that contains the ''cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominations ...
of ''Santa Maria de Fovea'', probably erected about 1179, which is directly linked with the patron saint "
Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
dei Sette Veli" (Madonna of the Seven Veils). This site has two levels of architectural style: the lower part is
Romanesque, as with many Apulian churches; the upper part is a remarkable example of Baroque. The upper part was reconstructed after a 1731 earthquake that destroyed a great part of the historical centre.
* ''Palazzo Dogana'', the historical seat of the sheep custom. In July 2013 this Palace was elected by
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...
as "Messenger Monument of the Culture of Peace" for its role in the cultural exchanges during centuries.
* ''Chiesa delle Croci'' ("Church of the Crosses").
* ''I Tre Archi'' ("The Three Arches").
* ''Arco di Federico II'' ("Arch of Frederick II").
* Archaeological park of Passo di Corvo.
Economy
It is a communication and industrial center and the main wheat market of Southern Italy. Foggia is famous for its watermelons and tomatoes.
Although less important than once before, the agricultural sector remains the mainstay of Foggia's economy. This area is nicknamed the "granary of Italy". The few industries present are mostly devoted to food processing. Craftsmanship is also encouraged and developed.
Transport
Foggia railway station
Foggia railway station ( it, Stazione di Foggia) serves the city and ''comune'' of Foggia, in the Regions of Italy, region of Apulia, Southern Italy. Opened in 1864, it forms part of the Adriatic Railway, Adriatic Railway (Ancona–Lecce), and ...
, opened in 1864, forms part of the
Adriatic Railway (Ancona–Lecce), and is the terminus of the
Naples–Foggia railway. It is also a
junction
Junction may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Junction'' (film), a 2012 American film
* Jjunction, a 2002 Indian film
* Junction (album), a 1976 album by Andrew Cyrille
* Junction (EP), by Basement Jaxx, 2002
* Junction (manga), or ''Hot ...
for several other, secondary lines, namely the
Foggia–Manfredonia,
Lucera–Foggia and
Foggia–Potenza railways, making Foggia the most important railway junction of southern Italy and the third one of whole Italy. Foggia is served by
Gino Lisa Airport, which offers direct flights operated with helicopters to
Tremiti Islands and
Vieste.
Sport
Foggia is home to the football club
Calcio Foggia 1920 S.S.D., which plays in
Serie C
The Serie C () is the third-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie B and Serie A. The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico (Lega Pro) is the governing body that runs the Serie C.
The unification of the Lega P ...
, the third football division in Italy, for the
2020-2021 season. The club earned popular recognition in the early 1990s because of its sparking interpretation of
total football led by coach
Zdeněk Zeman, which led to promotion to and a brief period in
Serie A
The Serie A (), also called Serie A TIM for national sponsorship with TIM, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and the winner is awarded the Scudetto and the Cop ...
. The club plays at
Stadio Pino Zaccheria
Stadio Pino Zaccheria is a multi-use stadium in Foggia, Italy, which was inaugurated in 1925. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Foggia Calcio. The stadium holds around 25,000 people.
History
The stadium ...
, named after Pino Zaccheria, a local pioneer of
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
killed during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
.
In February 2019 Foggia hosted the European Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships.
Notable people
*
Renzo Arbore
Lorenzo Giovanni "Renzo" Arbore (; born 24 June 1937) is an Italian television host, singer, actor and film director.
Career
Arbore became nationally recognized as radio anchor man, together with Gianni Boncompagni, in the late 1960s, with ...
, TV showman and musician.
*
Alex Baroni
Alex Baroni, born Alessandro Guido Baroni (22 December 1966 – 13 April 2002) was an Italian singer, active between 1994 and 2002. He released four albums during his lifetime. A fifth posthumous record, a tribute album, and two more collections ...
, singer
*
Adriano Celentano
Adriano Celentano (; born 6 January 1938) is an Italian musician, singer, composer, actor, and filmmaker. He is dubbed "''il Molleggiato''" (the springy one) because of his dancing.
Celentano's many albums frequently enjoyed both commercial and ...
, TV showman, musician and actor.
*
Donato Coco, automobile designer, currently chief designer at Ferrari.
*
Mauro De Mauro, journalist assassinated by mafia.
*
Pietro Giannone
Pietro Giannone (7 May 1676 – 17 March 1748) was an Italian philosopher, historian and jurist born in Ischitella, in the province of Foggia. He opposed the papal influence in Naples, for which he was excommunicated and imprisoned for twelve ye ...
, philosopher
*
Umberto Giordano, composer, whose memory is honored in the town square.
*
Vladimir Luxuria, transgender Italian politician
*
Mario Mauro, minister of defence
*
Andrea Pazienza, cartoonist
*
Pio e Amedeo , actors and producers
*
Michele Placido, actor and director
*
Nicola Sacco
Nicola Sacco (; April 22, 1891 – August 23, 1927) and Bartolomeo Vanzetti (; June 11, 1888 – August 23, 1927) were Italian immigrant anarchists who were controversially accused of murdering Alessandro Berardelli and Frederick Parmenter, a ...
, anarchist prisoner executed by U.S. government.
*
Tony Slydini, master close up magician.
*
Vincent Simone
Vincent Simone (born 15 March 1979) is an Italian professional dancer, who has appeared as a professional dancer on ''Strictly Come Dancing'' from 2006 until 2012. He moved to Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom when he was 17. Simone and profess ...
, dancer.
*
Nicola Zingarelli
Nicola Zingarelli (; August 28, 1860 — June 6, 1935) was an Italian philologist, the founder of the Zingarelli Italian dictionary.
He was born in Cerignola (Apulia) and died in Milan
Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city ...
, philologist
International relations
Twin towns – sister cities
Foggia is
twinned with:
*
Göppingen, Germany, since 1971
*
Wałbrzych, Poland, since 1998
*
Pescasseroli
Pescasseroli (, Marsicano: '', '') is a town and '' comune'' in the province of L'Aquila, in Southern Abruzzo, central Italy.
A summer and winter resort, it is also the location of the Abruzzo National Park, nestled in the heart of the Monti ...
, Italy, since 2005
*
Forlì
Forlì ( , ; rgn, Furlè ; la, Forum Livii) is a '' comune'' (municipality) and city in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. It is the central city of Romagna.
The city is situated along the Vi ...
, Italy, since 2009
*
L'Aquila
L'Aquila ( , ) is a city and ''comune'' in central Italy. It is the capital city of both the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 70,967 inhabitants. Laid out within medieval walls on a hill in the wide valle ...
, Italy, since 2009
*
Quimper
Quimper (, ; br, Kemper ; la, Civitas Aquilonia or ) is a commune and prefecture of the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.
Administration
Quimper is the prefecture (capital) of the Finistère department.
Geography
Th ...
, France, since 2011
*
Erzurum, Turkey, since 1987
In popular culture
The TV character Archie Bunker on ''
All in the Family'' spent time in Foggia when he was in the Army Air Corps.
See also
*
Capitanata
*
Gargano
*
Tavoliere delle Puglie
*
Province of Foggia
*
Bombing of Foggia in 1943 (World War II)
*
Foggia Airfield Complex
The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy. The airfields were used by the United States Army Air Force Fifteenth Air Force as part of the str ...
(World War II)
References
External links
Foggia News and Televisionwww.ManganoFoggia.it - Website about city of Foggia, with its culture, history, curiositiesThe portal of Foggia and province
City of Foggia's official siteLaProvinciadiFoggia.it - Portal of the Foggia's provinceSmall Town FoggiaSmall Town Foggia-Vieste
{{Authority control
Cities and towns in Apulia