Mottola
Let's Discover the Municipality of Mottola in Puglia
If you're planning a trip to the beautiful region of Puglia, you can't miss the municipality of Mottola. Located in the province of Taranto, Mottola is a small hidden gem on the hills of Murgia, just a stone's throw from the Ionian Sea. Let's explore together some of the details that make this town unique.
Physical Geography of Mottola
Mottola is located in the southern part of Murgia and is characterized by the presence of a Gravina (geology), forests (both pine and oak) and also areas with spontaneous Mediterranean vegetation. The town is situated on a hill at an altitude of 387 meters above sea level, and its territory ranges from a minimum height of about 70 meters above sea level to a maximum height of 506 meters above sea level. The municipal territory borders Noci, Gioia del Colle, Alberobello, Martina Franca, Castellaneta, Massafra, Palagiano and Palagianello.
Weather in Mottola
Despite being located on a hill, the short distance from the sea mitigates Mottola's climate. The average temperature is around 8-9°C in winter, rising to 22-25°C in summer, with low temperatures in winter nights that can drop below 2°C and highs of 26-32°C in August afternoons. Mottola's climate classification belongs to zone D, 1715 GG.
The Origin of the City's Name
There is no certainty about the origin of Mottola's name, but some hypotheses have been advanced, including the derivation from "motta" (which means "height"). The documented and ascertained historical spellings of the name are "Motula" (Latin), "Motola", and finally "Mottola".
The History of Mottola
The hill of Mottola has seen its territory and urban agglomeration affected by human habitation since prehistoric times. The discovery of a bronze hoard dating back to the Iron Age is evidence of this human presence in the area. The city was later built by the catapan of Italy Basilio Boioannes in 1023. The "castellum" mentioned in historical sources was built by Boioannes with the help of two Saracen chiefs, Rayca and Saffari. The city was important for the process of consolidating the territory and the borders of the theme of Longobardia for strategic-military purposes.
Another testimony of the castle dates back to 1063, according to the Breve chronicon Northmannicum. This news seems to suggest a distinction between a fortified settlement ("castrum") and a castle building ("castellum"), so that one should suppose the existence of a castle structure, separated from a fortified settlement. The distinction between the fortified settlement of the mid-eleventh century and the village in the Petruscio gravina, which could have been populated between the ninth and eleventh centuries as part of a recovery and resettlement process in the pedemurgian region, is also unclear.
Conclusion
In summary, Mottola is a municipality in Puglia that boasts a strategic position on the beautiful hills of Murgia. The territory is characterized by the presence of a Gravina (geology), forests of pine and oak, and in general areas with spontaneous Mediterranean vegetation. The temperature mitigates Mottola's climate, making it an ideal destination for summer holidays. As we have seen, the city has a very interesting history, characterized by human presence since prehistoric times, up to the construction of the castle, which was important for the process of consolidating the territory and the borders of the theme of Longobardia for strategic-military purposes.
