Francavilla Fontana, Puglia, Italy

Francavilla Fontana is a town in the province of Brindisi, Puglia, Italy.

Francavilla Fontana

Francavilla Fontana

Welcome to Francavilla Fontana, Puglia, Italy

Festa di Santa Lucia

Festa of Santa Lucia on 16th April 2015 in Francavilla Fontana

Festa of Santa Lucia 2015 Francavilla Fontana, Puglia, Italy

Festa of Santa Lucia 2015 Francavilla Fontana, Puglia, Italy

Festa of Santa Lucia 2015 Francavilla Fontana, Puglia, Italy

Festa of Santa Lucia 2015 Francavilla Fontana, Puglia, Italy

Festa of Santa Lucia 2015 Francavilla Fontana, Puglia, Italy

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Pappamusci

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

crosses

Processione dei Misteri

Easter cakes

Fountain and band stand

Castello Imperiali

castle carving

Festa lights

Piazza Giovanni XXIII

Piazza Umberto I

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Festa di Santa Lucia
Francavilla Fontana on TV
"Processione dei Misteri" Francavilla Fontana 2015
Pappamusci 2015
Palm Sunday in Francavilla Fontana, Puglia
Events in Francavilla Fontana for Holy Week 2018
Photos from events in Francavilla Fontana

Castello Imperiali Francavilla

Cartapestaio Piero Balsamo on TV

Almond sweet

Tradition

Saturday Market

Restaurants

Cycling

Links to other sites about Francavilla Fontana

Francavilla on facebook

Weather

Piazza Umberto I, Francavilla Fontana

Piazza Umberto I, Francavilla Fontana

Piazza Umberto I

Around the piazza you will find bars and cafes selling cold drinks, coffee, ice cream, snacks, cakes and biscuits. They all have indoor and outdoor seating. There is also an ice cream parlour, tobacconists which sells stamps, newsagents, pizzeria and food shop.

Around the fountain is a big area where local people of all ages gather to meet friends in the evening, especially during festivals when the Francavilla Concert Band performs on the Band Stand covered in lights.

Historically this was the social and economic centre of the town. Under the new paving are still the ancient tanks for storage of grain. The arcades on two sides of the Piazza date back to 1750 and have statues of St. Irene, Charles Borromeo and Madonna della Fontana e dell'Immacolata.

Other focal points are the clock tower which dates back to 1756 and the large stone columns, metal gates and arches of the old market building. To the left of the clock tower is Piazza Dante.

Bars and cafes

Bars and cafes

Piazza Umberto I, Francavilla Fontana

Piazza Umberto I, Francavilla Fontana

Imperiali Castle

The castle was built in around 1450 by Prince Giovanni Antonio Orsini Del Balzo.This crenellated castle initially had square tower ramparts with a moat and drawbridge. It was enlarged further by Duke Giovanni Bernardino Bonifacio in around 1547.

In 1572 the castle was bought by the Imperiali family. Hence it often being referred to as Pallazo Imperiali. Between 1720 and 1730 Michelle Imperiali transformed this fortress into an elegant residence. On the east side facing the Post Office is a beautiful Loggia balcony in Lecce Baroque style with ornate carvings.

The castle is now the property of the city and has recently been totally renovated to be used as a cultural centre for the town. The large rooms and courtyard are used for weddings, music and art events. A tourist Information Office can be found just inside the door to the left and there is a museum.

Castello Imperiali, Francavilla Fontana

Castello Imperiali, Francavilla Fontana

Imperiali Castle, Francavilla Fontana

Imperiali Castle, Francavilla Fontana

Minor Basilica of Francavilla Fontana

Minor Basilica of Francavilla Fontana

Piazza Giovanni XXIII

This large piazza in the historic centre has ancient stone paving and plays host to large concerts in the summer.

The Minor Basilica of Santissimo Rosario, also known as Chiesa Matrice (Mother Church) is the largest church in the Diocese of Oria. The current building is the result of a reconstruction in 1743 of the earlier church built in the 14^th century at the instruction of Fillipo l d’Angio. According to the traditional story the Prince of Taranto, Fillipo l d’Angio, on September 14^th 1310, whilst on a hunting trip, found an icon depicting the Madonna and child near a fountain. He was drawn to the spot after one of his Noble companions had reported shooting an arrow at a deer, where upon the arrow returned to him. Fillipo ordered a church be built to house the icon. Each year the festival to the towns Patron Saint is held on this date.

The stone façade is decorated in the Baroque style with statues of St Peter and St Paul on the corners. The colourful Dome is the highest in Salento and is covered in glazed earthenware, tiles which shine in the sunlight. There is also a bell tower in front of which is a restaurant. Across the limestone Piazza is a small café, a bank and a large school.

To the left of the Mother church is La Chiesa di Santana Chiara with a neoclassical facade, and back down the street to the left of that is Chiesa dei Padri Liguorini, which has an amazing interior rich in gold and inlays of mother of pearl which catch the light and highlight the beautiful painted friezes and statue of St. Alfonso.

It was written by a great traveller and historian of the 17th century "Giovan Battista Pacichelli" that the Imperial City of Francavilla Fontana is the midpoint of Salento, being located central to Santa Maria di Leuca in the south and the Bradano River in the north and Taranto in the west and Brindisi in the east. The byzantine icon of "Madonna Della Fontana" protects these lands and so it was fitting that a solid bronze plaque be placed in the stone paving in front of the Mother Church marking the midpoint. Visitors are encouraged to have their photos taken on the plaque as this is the "heart" of the Terra d'Otranto.

Piazza Giovanni XXIII

Piazza Giovanni XXIII

Piazza plaque, school and cafe

Piazza plaque, school and cafe

Revealing the Bronze Plaque

Dome of Minor Basilica

Dome of Minor Basilica

Piazza Dante

Piazza Dante

Piazza Dante

In this small Piazza next to the clock tower of Piazza Umberto I you can buy a bottle of beer for as little as 1 euro and take away panini or crepes.

Piazza Dante

Piazza Dante

Traditional sweet of Francavilla Fontana

The "Mandorla riccia" of Francavilla Fontana is a sweet product exclusively in the territory of the municipality of Francavilla Fontana. It is an almond treat with a sugary white glazed coating with a hint of lemon and vanilla.

In 1912 it earned the Gold Medal at the "Fiera dei Sapon" in Paris. And the recipe has been registered by public deed and has a designation of origin.

Visit Passiante Cosimo and his family making the traditional Francavillesi sugared almonds and other sweets almond treats in their small room in Piazza Dante behind the clock tower of Piazza Umberto I. They are made in the tradional way in a large copper pan over the fire. They also set up a stall when there is a festival in town.

"Mandorla riccia" almond sweets

"Mandorla riccia" almond sweets

Restaurants

Francavilla Fontana has many good restaurants serving well priced pizza and Puglian cuisine. Most open about 8pm and for the first hour they are usually very quiet. Italians tend to dine later and often you will see large family groups out together. Pizzas are large with many topping options and prices are good when compared to more touristy towns

Francavilla Fontana Restaurants

Francavilla Fontana Restaurants

Tsunami Water Park

Tsunami is a small water park on the road from Francavilla Fontana to Carosino (Contrada Cantagallo)

Tsunami water park

Tsunami water park

When a TV station visited Francavilla to see what the locals were cooking.

Francavilla Fontana Saturday Market

Francavilla Fontana Saturday Market

Francavilla Saturday morning market

Every Saturday morning in the streets north of the castle there is a large street market. There are two streets selling fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, nuts and cheese. There are three streets selling clothes, fabric, bedding, plants and handbags. And a further two streets selling that great Italian passion "Shoes!". You will be able to buy fruit and vegetables just picked, fresh from the local growers and enjoy the fresh sun ripened flavour of what is in season.

Saturday morning market

Saturday morning market

Ceramiche

Ceramiche

Porta Francavilla Fontana

Porta Francavilla Fontana

Folk music and pizzica dancing in Francavilla

Past Events

Past Events

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