Torricella, Apulia

Torricella
Comune
Comune di Torricella
View of Torricella
Coat of arms
Location of Torricella
Torricella Location of Torricella in Italy Show map of Italy Torricella Torricella (Apulia) Show map of Apulia
Coordinates: 40°21′N 17°30′E
Country	Italy
Region	Apulia
Province	Taranto (TA)
Frazioni	Monacizzo, Torre Ovo-Librari-Truglione
Government
• Mayor	Michele Schifone
Area [1]
• Total	26.93 km^2 (10.40 sq mi)
Elevation	32 m (105 ft)
Population  (31 December 2015)[2]
• Total	4,500
• Density	170/km^2 (430/sq mi)
Demonym	Torricellesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	74020
Dialing code	099
Website	Official website

Torricella (Brindisino: Turricèdda) is a town and comune in the province of Taranto, in the Apulia region of southeast Italy. It is home to a large tuff castle from the 15th century, one of the best preserved in the region.

It is mostly an agricultural center, with production of olives and olive oil, wine, wheat, figs and sheep husbandry.

History

The settlement's origins date to the 11th century, when a group of shepherds and peasants abandoned the coast (where is now the archaeological site of Torre Ovo) to seek protection against the Saracen raids. To crypt of the Santissima Trinità church (12th century) is from that period.

In 1407 it was held by the Capitignano family, which was followed by the Santoro, Montagnese and Muscettola. After the abolition of feudalism in the early 19th century, it was part of Sava and then Lizzano, becoming an autonomous comune in 1954.

References

1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
2. Population from ISTAT