Foggia

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For other uses, see Foggia (disambiguation).

Comune di Foggia
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Puglia
Province	Foggia (FG)
Mayor	Orazio Ciliberti

Elevation	76 m
Area	507 km²
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2004)	154,780
- Density	288/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	41°27′51″N, 15°32′46″E
Gentilic	Foggiani
Dialing code	0881
Postal code	71100
Frazioni	Borgo Mezzanone, Arpinova, L'Incoronata, Cervaro, Tavernola, Segezia
Patron	Madonna dei Sette Veli
- Day	March 22
Location of Foggia in Italy
Website: www.comune.foggia.it

The Villa Comunale (Municipal Park) of Foggia.

Foggia is a city of Puglia, Italy, capital of the province of Foggia. Foggia is the main city of a plain called Capitanata, also known as the "granary of Italy".

Image:Veduta Foggia.jpg

Aerial view of Foggia.

1 History
2 Main sights
3 Economy
4 Sport
5 Famous people
6 Other
7 Twin cities
8 See also
9 References
10 External links

[edit] History

The name Foggia derives from Latin "fovea", meaning "pit". Although the area had been settled since Neolithic times, and a Greek colony known as Argos Hippium existed nearby, the first document attesting the existence of the modern city dates from 1000 AD: according to the legend, the first settlers were peasants who had found a panel potraying the Madonna, on which three flames burnt. The area was marshy and unhealty, being partially dried under Robert Guiscard, who therefore boosted 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 eleventh century. In the twelfth, William II of Sicily built here a cathedral and further enlarged the settlement.

Frederick II had a palace built in Foggia in 1223, in which he often sojourned. It was also seat of his court and of a studium including figures such as Michael Scot, but little of it remains now.

In 1447 King Alfonso V of Aragon built a Custom Palace to tax the local sheep farmers, but this caused a decline of the local economy and the progressive ruin of the land, which get marshy again. In 1456 an earthquake struck Foggia, followed by others in 1534, 1627 and 1731, the latter destroying one third of the city. The House of Bourbon, however, promoted a certain economical 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 citizen took also part to the riot movements which led to the annexation of Italy in 1861.

The abolition of the custom in 1865 favoured the abandon of sheep farming in favour of a definitive shift to 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.

This role pushed the Allies to bomb the city during World War II, in particular on July 22 and August 19, 1943, reducing it into rubble. On October 1, 1943 the Allies conquered Foggia, making it a stronghold of their slow offensive towards the north of the peninsula. In 1959 and 2006 Foggia received the Gold Medal for Civil and, respectively, Military value for its role in World War II.

[edit] Main sights

The cathedral of Santa Maria de Fovea, which is directly linked with the patron saint "Madonna dei Sette Veli" (Madonna of the Seven Veils)
Palazzo Dogana, the historical seat of the sheep custom.
Chiesa delle Croci ("Church of the Crosses").
The Three Arches.
Arco di Federico II ("Arch of Frederick II").
Archaeological park of Passo di Covo.

[edit] Economy

Although relatively less important than once, the agricultural sector remain the mainstay of Foggia's economy, so much that its area is nicknamed the "granary of Italy".

The few industries present are mostly devoted food processing. Craftsmanship is also developed.

[edit] Sport

Foggia's stadium is entitled to Pino Zaccheria, a local pioneer of basketball killed during World War II. It is home of the town's football team U.S. Foggia, which currently plays in Serie C1/B.