View source for Mottola

{{For|the surname|Mottola (surname)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2009}}
{{Infobox Italian comune
| name                = Mottola
| official_name       = Comune di Mottola
| native_name         = {{native name|nap|Mòtele}}
| image_skyline       = Chiesa Madre 2.jpg
| imagesize           =
| image_alt           =
| image_caption       = Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Mottola
| image_shield        =
| shield_size         = px
| shield_alt          =
| image_map           =
| mapsize             =
| map_alt             =
| map_caption         =
| nickname            = Spia dello Ionio
| motto               =
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt     =
| coordinates         = {{coord|40|38|N|17|02|E|type:city(16365)_region:IT-TA|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| region              = [[Apulia]]
| province            = [[Province of Taranto|Taranto]]
| frazioni            =
| established_date    = [[1309–1300 BC|1300 BC]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.comune.mottola.ta.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=11|title=History of Mottola}}</ref>
| mayor_party         =
| mayor               =Giovanni Piero Barulli
| area_footnotes      =
| area_total_km2      = 213.96
| population_footnotes =
| population_total    = 15842
| population_as_of    = 31 December 2017
| pop_density_footnotes =
| population_demonym  =Mottolesi
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m         = 387
| elevation_min_m     =
| elevation_max_m     =
| twin1               =
| twin1_country       =
| twin2               =
| twin2_country       =
| twin3               =
| twin3_country       =
| saint               = [[Thomas Becket|San Tommaso Becket]]
| day                 =
| postal_code         = 74017
| area_code           = 099
| website             = {{Official website|http://www.comune.mottola.ta.it}}
| footnotes           =
}}
'''Mottola''' ({{langx|nap|label=[[Tarantino dialect|Mottolese]]|Mòtele}}, {{IPA-nap|ˈmɔːtələ|IPA}}) is a town and ''[[comune]]'' in the [[province of Taranto]] and region of [[Apulia]] in southeast [[Italy]].
It stands on a hill {{convert|387|m|ft}} above mean [[sea level]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.comune.mottola.ta.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4&Itemid=12|title=Comune di Mottola Official Site}}</ref> in the sub-region of [[Altopiano delle Murge|Murgia]]. It is also called "The Ionian Spy" for its strategic geographical position. From various points of the town all of the [[Gulf of Taranto]] can be seen.
The economy is based mostly on agriculture and food production (olives, wine, citrus fruits, vegetables). Tourism and the manufacture of wooden fixtures are also being developed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lentini |first=Pasquale |title=Storia della città di Mottola |publisher=Soci Editori Mottola |year=1978 |location=Mottola |pages=15-18 |language=IT |trans-title=History of the city of Mottola |chapter=Cenni Economici}}</ref>
==History==
Mottola's hill was inhabited since prehistory, as testified by several findings from that age.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Maglio |first=Sergio Natale |title=Avvenimenti storici e sviluppo urbano della città di Mottola |year=1994 |location=Mottola |pages=15-21 |language=IT |trans-title=Historical events and urban development of the city of Mottola |chapter=Le origini}}</ref>
In 1023, a ''castellum'' was built here by Byzantine [[catapan]] [[Basil Boioannes]]. During the subsequent [[Italo-Normans|Norman domination]], the town became a [[diocese]] until 1818, when it lost the title for [[Castellaneta]].
In 1653 the fief was sold to Francesco Caracciolo, Duke of [[Martina Franca]]. After the [[Italian unification]], Mottola was a center of [[Brigandage in Italy|Brigandage]].
==Geography and climate==
Mottola enjoys a typical [[Mediterranean climate]], with the greatest amounts of precipitation mainly occurring from mid-October to mid-April; any precipitation is sparse during summer and it generally takes the form of showers and/or [[thunderstorms]]. The average temperature varies from a low of {{convert|5|C|F}} in January to a high of {{convert|28|C|F}} in July and August. The wettest months are December and March averaging between {{convert|15|and|20|cm|in}}. Fog is highly usual in the town centre but it is less frequent in the outskirts, specially in the south part. Spring and fall (autumn) are considered ideal seasons for sightseeing and various outdoor activities. Summers can be particularly hot.
{{Weather box
|location = Mottola
|single line = Yes
|Jan high F = 54
|Feb high F = 54
|Mar high F = 58
|Apr high F = 63
|May high F = 71
|Jun high F = 78
|Jul high F = 83
|Aug high F = 83
|Sep high F = 78
|Oct high F = 70
|Nov high F = 61
|Dec high F = 56
|year high F = 68
|Jan low F = 41
|Feb low F = 41
|Mar low F = 44
|Apr low F = 48
|May low F = 55
|Jun low F = 62
|Jul low F = 67
|Aug low F = 67
|Sep low F = 62
|Oct low F = 56
|Nov low F = 48
|Dec low F = 43
|year low F = 53
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.9
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.9
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.8
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.2
|May precipitation inch = 1.3
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.9
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.8
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.2
|Sep precipitation inch = 2
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.3
|Nov precipitation inch = 2
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.8
|year precipitation inch = 17.49
|source 1 = weatherbase.com<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=007261&refer= |title=Average weather for Mottola |accessdate=22 April 2009 |publisher=weatherbase.com}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
==Main sights==
[[File:Arco Fanelli Mottola.jpg|right|240px|thumbnail|A narrow street of the historical centre.]]
* The cathedral (13th century, enlarged in 1507) and the Byzantine cave churches, dates from the medieval period, among which the most important are Saint Nicholas, Saint Margaret and Saint Angelus situated in frazione [[Casalrotto]].
* The town has a particularly beautiful "old city" surrounded by stone walls with prominent Baroque gates leading to piazzas and winding, tiny streets.  The Piazza XX Settembre is the largest open space in the city, with a greenspace in the center of a largely rectangular place.
* In the historic centre are present the Saint Mary ex-cathedral (12th century), Our Lady of Mount Carmel church (17th century), Immaculate church (17th century), Saint Mary of Constantinople chapel (16th century), and a part of Hellenistic wall (6th–4th century BCE). At the end of historic part of the town, is located a roundabout, from which can be viewed the landscape of the western part of the [[Province of Taranto]].
==Archaeological sites==
Mottola country is rich of [[karst]]s called "gravine", usually situated in the south side of the town. The most important are Forcella, San Biagio, di Capo Gavito and Petruscio. The last one is certainly the most predominant.
==Holy Week rites==
[[File:Palazzo comunale Mottola di notte.jpg|thumb|right|260 px|Mottola City Hall]]
There are numerous religious events during the Holy Week in Mottola. These events are characterized by typical [[procession]]s, celebrating the [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion]], made by hooded faithfuls called "paranze" in the last days of the week. The processions take place through the streets of the historical centre and end in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel church, that is also the organizer church.
==Notable people==
* [[Nicola Legrottaglie]] (footballer, born 1976)
* [[Luigi Mastrangelo]] (volleyball player, born 1975)
* [[Antonella Palmisano]] (racewalking, born 1991)
* [[Giovanni D'Onghia]] (volleyball coach, born 1963)
* [[Oronzo Mario Scarano]] (composer, 1847–1901)
* [[Lorenzo Semeraro]] (composer and professor at Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini in Florence, 1914&ndash;89)
==See also==
* [[Karst topography]]
* [[Altopiano delle Murge|Murgia]]
* [[Terra d'Otranto]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.comune.mottola.ta.it/ Official website] {{in lang|it}}
* [http://sabatosantomottolese.splinder.com/ Holy Week rites in Mottola] {{in lang|it}}
* [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=mottola,italy&ll=40.472603,17.233601&spn=0.055447,0.084715&t=k&hl=en Googlemap: Mottola satellite map]
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{{Province of Taranto}}
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[[Category:Cities and towns in Apulia]]