MATTINATA

'Mattinata' is a famous holiday resort municipality in the Apulia region.

Contents

History

Geography

Economy

Gallery

External links

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 first century AD. It is thought the village was destroyed by small scale tsunamis. Relatively small traces of the Roman settlement can still be found. The modern town is the result of the direct immigration over different centuries of people from Monte Sant'Angelo, which administered the town until 1954, year of its independence as comune.

Geography

Mattinata is part of the Gargano National Park (''Parco Nazionale del Gargano''). The urban area is mainly located around two hills of small size, surrounded by mountains in the northern, western and southern side. On the east 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.

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).

Gallery

External links

★ Mattinata.it

★ Mattinatesi.it

★ Mattinata Net