Mattinata

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Comune di Mattinata
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Puglia
Province	Foggia (FG)
Mayor	Angelo Iannotta

Elevation	80 m
Area	72 km²
Population
- Total (as of Dec 31, 2004)	6,445
- Density	88/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	41°42′N, 16°03′E
Gentilic	Mattinatesi
Dialing code	0884
Postal code	71030

Patron	Our Lady of Light
- Day	September 15
Website: www.comune.mattinata.fg.it

Mattinata is a town and comune in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of southeast Italy.

View of Mattinata from the mountains.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Gallery
5 External links

[edit] History

The first humans to settle in the area were tribes of Eastern European origin, mainly from Greece and the Balkans, which populated the surrounding lands from the 5th century BC. The origins of the name Mattinata can be traced back to the Roman village of Matinum, which was located by the current sea port in the 1st century AD. The village was completely destroyed by a tsunami. Relatively small traces of the Roman settlement can still be found. The modern town is the result of the direct immigration from past centuries of people, mainly farmers, from the town of Monte Sant'Angelo, which administered the town until 1954, year of its independence as comune.

The famous Faraglioni rocks

[edit] Geography

Mattinata is part of the Gargano National Park (Parco Nazionale del Gargano). The urban area is mainly located around two hills of small dimension, surrounded by mountains in the north, west and south side. On the east side the town faces a plain of olive trees plantations ending towards the Adriatic Sea. The coastal side heading north towards Vieste is famous for its beauty, due to its white cliffs made of chalks and its large number of sea caves. The area surrounding Mattinata is a popular destination for botanical experts, due to the existence of around 60 different species of orchids.

[edit] Economy

The economy of Mattinata is mostly based on services and farming. Tourism plays an important role in the community. Farm products include olives, almonds, figs, Indian fig opuntia, and livestock (mainly cattle and goats).