Oria, Apulia

Oria (or ''Orra'', ; or , '; ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Apulia region (Salento), in the province of Brindisi, in southern Italy. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oria.

History

Antiquity

In classical times, Oria was known as ''Hyria (Uria)'' or ''Hyrium'', one of the principal ancient Messapian cities. It was just north of the ancient town of Manduria, southwest of Brundisium, and southeast of Taras/ Tarentum, corresponding to the location of the modern town.

According to Herodotus (7.170), it was founded by the Messapians (who, according to Herodotus, were originally Cretans) sometime after the abortive siege of the Sicanian city Camicus. Messapians were probably of Illyrian origin. Strabo mentions that he saw there the old palace of the Messapian kings (vi. 3. 6, p. 282). Between 217 and 84 BC the city was minting its own coins. The coins often feature '' Iapagus'', the Iapygian national hero.

Middle Ages

Oria was conquered by the Romans and became an important Byzantine stronghold in the years 834-871, when Arabs conquered large parts of southern Italy. For security reasons, the bishop of Brindisi installed the former duke of Benevento, Guaifer, in the town as protosphartarios. Bishop Theodosius deposited the relics of Saint Barsanuphius of Gaza in a chapel in the 880s close to the Porta degli Ebrei. They were kept there until 1170. The church of San Francesco da Paola was later built there in 1580.

There was a flourishing Jewish population until the Arabs conquest in 925. Latin chronicles report the massacre of the male population, Jewish texts lament the loss of scholars, and Arab sources boast of the rich booty. The Jewish physician Shabbethai Donnolo was among those captured by the Arabs, but was later ransomed.

Oria was destroyed again in 977. In 1266, Oria was besieged by Manfred of Sicily.

Modern period

Much damage was done by a cyclone in 1878.

Main sights

* Castle, mostly the result of modifications from the early 13th century under Frederick II Hohenstaufen and, later, under the Angevines, who added two cylindrical towers.
* Gate of the Jews (Italian: ''Porta degli Ebrei'').
* Oria Cathedral: Basilica, built from 1750 over a pre-existing building damaged by an earthquake. The interior houses numerous paintings from the 17th to the 20th century. The exterior is commanded by the large polychrome dome.
* San Domenico: church built starting in 1572. The interior has Baroque paintings. Also notable is the cloister of the annexed convent.
* San Francesco d'Assisi
* San Francesco da Paola: late 16th century church
* San Giovanni Battista: church originally built in the 14th century but later included in a large Baroque edifice in the 17th century.
* Grotto church of '' Madonna della Scala''.
* Bishop's palace (16th century)
* Sanctuary of San Cosimo alla Macchia

Jewish presence

Oria had one of the oldest Jewish communities in Europe. Jewish scholarship in Oria included the study of philosophy, the Talmud, languages such as Greek and Latin, medicine and natural sciences. It was home to Shefatya ben Amitai and Shabbethai Donnolo, two of the first Hebrew writers native to Europe.

Ten scholars in the community were killed when Arabs under Abu Ahmad Ja'far ibn 'Ubaid conquered Oria on July 4 925 CE. This was the beginning of the end of Jewish presence in Oria; the last trace was an epitaph produced in 1035. It is likely, however, that Jews lived in Oria until the 15th century.

Notable people

*Shabbethai Donnolo (913 – c. 982), Jewish scholar and writer
* Francesco Milizia (1725-1798), neoclassisictic

Twin cities

Oria is twinned with:
* Lorch, Germany.
* Miekinia, Poland.
* Sarteano, Italy.

Notes

External links

Official Oria tourist siteJewish Encyclopedia entry on Oria

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Cities and towns in Apulia
Localities of Salento
Jewish communities in Italy