Montemesola
Montemesola: a gem in Puglia
Hi everyone! Today I would like to talk to you about a Puglian municipality that might surprise you for its beauty: Montemesola. Located in the province of Taranto, Montemesola is a small town with just over 3,500 inhabitants. But don't let its size deceive you, because Montemesola is a true gem to discover.
The physical geography of Montemesola
Montemesola is located on a hill over 180 meters high, situated in the Taranto plateau. The view from its hill is breathtaking: you can see the Gulf of Taranto, the valley from Grottaglie to San Giorgio Ionico and the extensive plain up to Pulsano, Leporano, Taranto, Villa Castelli. Moreover, the town is a few meters from the famous Gravina, a depression in the tufaceous limestone that leads to Taranto. The architectural elements of Montemesola can be traced back to the historic centers of other towns, but its urban structure differs from that of other towns because it seems to have been designed on paper, following a modern urbanistic logic.
The origin of the name
The name Montemesola seems to derive from the same topographical position of the town. In fact, Montemesola is located on a hill that extends over the plain in a more or less elliptical shape. This is compared to the surrounding mountains, which make the hill look like a shelf. Therefore, Montemesola could derive from the Latin "Montis-mensulae", which means "mountain shelf". According to others, the name may come from the Puglian dialect "mesula", which means "pile of stones".
The coat of arms
The coat of arms of Montemesola represents the outline of the hills on which the municipality is located. It is a rather suggestive coat of arms that gives an idea of the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
The history of Montemesola
The land of Montemesola dates back to the Neolithic period. In 1320, the Regia Corte granted Berengario De Mandorino "the right to rehabilitate the former place in the city of Taranto called Montismesuli inhabited". This means that the Montemesola hamlet was founded right in that year. In 1360, Berengario de Mandorino, baron of Montemesola, accused the archbishop of Taranto, Giacomo I de Atri, of having devastated and depopulated his feud. So, there is a story of struggles between feudal lords, as often happened in those times.
Conclusions
In short, Montemesola is a small pearl to absolutely visit if you are in Puglia. The view of the town from its hill is a breathtaking spectacle and the history behind its origins will surprise you. If you are looking for some tranquility, Montemesola is the perfect place. I hope I have made you want to visit this splendid municipality. See you soon with other discoveries!
