Carapelle
Carapelle: a small town in Puglia
Carapelle, also known as Cherapelle in Foggiano dialect, is an Italian municipality in the province of Foggia, located in the Puglia region. The town develops along the banks of the Carapelle river, in the Tavoliere delle Puglie, bordering Foggia to the north, Ordona to the southwest and Orta Nova to the southeast. Carapelle is one of the five royal sites, together with Orta Nova, Ordona, Stornara and Stornarella.
History
The foundation of the town dates back to 1774, during the reclamation of the area wanted by Ferdinando IV of Bourbon, which led to the birth of four other villages together with Carapelle. In the 1950s, the town obtained administrative autonomy from the municipality of Orta Nova, of which it was previously a fraction. In the following decade, Carapelle experienced a period of demographic and economic boom, thanks to its relative proximity to Foggia and favorable real estate market.
Society
The town has about 4,000 inhabitants and has seen a slight demographic decline in recent years. In 2010, there were 627 foreigners residing in Carapelle, mainly of Romanian, Albanian, Moroccan, Polish and Ukrainian nationality. Carapelle is also known for hosting the headquarters of the historic Foggia television broadcaster TeleRadioErre.
Culture and events
The town boasts several traditions and celebrates many festivals throughout the year. On February 1st, the Communal Day is celebrated, while on April 2nd is the feast of San Francesco da Paola. During the first week of August, the Gastronomic Festival of Cingoli of Burnt Wheat with Hard Ricotta is held, while the first Sunday of October is the feast in honor of the Patron Madonna of the Rosary. Finally, on December 7th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception Bonfire is celebrated.
Economy
The economy of Carapelle is predominantly agricultural, with crops of vegetables, wheat, wine and artichokes. However, in recent years, the economy of the town has experienced a boost thanks to the increase in tourism in Puglia.
Administration and twinning
From December 1st, 2017 to June 10th, 2018, the town was governed by Nicolina Mascia, in the position of Prefectural Commissioner. Carapelle has also established twinning with several municipalities in Italy and abroad.
Sport
The main football team in the town, ASD Polisportiva Carapelle, played in the regional Promotion championship, while other minor teams played in the third category such as Atletico Carapelle and Carapellese. In 2015, following the bankruptcy of ASD Carapelle, the Sporting Ordona project was born, a union of the Carapellese team with the main team of the nearby municipality of Ordona. The club obtained high positions in the Promotion ranking and in the 2015-2016 season it came in second place, without ever managing to surpass the Play-offs. In the 2018-2019 season, the club changed its name to Sporting Donia following the merger with Atletico Orta Nova.
In conclusion, Carapelle is a small Puglian town with a strong agricultural tradition that is trying to develop in the tourism sector as well. With its celebrations and local football teams, the town is a welcoming place where the local community is bound by strong cultural roots.
