Orta Nova
Encyclopedia
Orta Nova is a town and comune
about 25.4 km from Foggia
, in the region of Puglia, southern Italy. It stretches to the Southern patch of the Tavoliere (Foggia's plain) to the right of Carapelle stream.
The origins of the name "Orta" are rather controversial, as it may indicate: "crooked-born", from Latin ortus, or "garden" from the Latin word hortus, or also "East".
In the early Middle Ages a hamlet, whose name is mentioned in a document dating back to 1184, was built on the ruins of the Roman post. This hamlet came under the control of the Benedictine
abbey of Venosa
.
Under the Italo-Norman
rule the Palace of Orta had its Concergius—a knight noted for his war capabilities—charged with guarding a castle or palace. In 1269 Pietro Galesio became Contergius, followed Raolino Normando followed. With the arrival of Henry VI
of Hohenstaufen
, Orta and its hamlet were part of a territorial defending plan as some documents attest.
Instead of the hamlet, a castrum was built under Hanry's son, Frederick II
, a sort of little country villa used for recreation. Here he had a castle built where he could hunt in the wood in its neighbourhood.
In 1271, after the Angevine
conquest of southern Italy, renovations were started by a royal "carpentier", Jean de Toul. In 1282 the castle of Orta, together with other five in the area, is attested to be directly managed by the royal court.
From the 14th century until the Aragonese conquest a darken epoch follows, in which the first conflicts started with the local pasture of the Teutonic Knights and continued having bad harvest and epidemic dating back to 1348, when the local province — also called "Capitanata" or "Daunia" — was struck by the Black Death
that reduced the number of inhabitants by 35 %.
The Fiefdom of Orta was purchased by the Jesuits of the Roman College in 1611; they also purchased the fiefdom of Stornara, the property of Ordona and the feudal farms of Stornara and Carapelle. The Jesuits were expelled from the Kingdom of Naples in 1767 with the seizure of the lands of Orta Nova and the close territories of Ordona (Herdoniae), Stornara, Stornarella and Carapelle; they were switched by the Royal Household, whence the name of "5 Royal Lands" (the 5 Reali Siti) or five agricultural colonies.
With the abolition of feudalism in 1808, Orta became an independent town with Ordona and Carapelle, and, after Italy's unification, in 1863 it received the name of Nova, to distinguish it from two similar-named Italian towns (Orta San Giulio
and Orta di Atella
).
yield of 15 tonnes/ha with the finished red wines need a minimum alcohol level of 12% and the roses needing at least 11.5% alcohol. The wines are predominantly composed of at least 60% Sangiovese
with up to 40% of a blend of Uva di Troia
, Montepulciano
, Lambrusco Maestri and Trebbiano
. However, Lambrusco and Trebbiano are further limited to each comprising no more than 10% of the blend.
The ex-Jesuit convent (1611) and the tower on its top, the Tower of the Lazeret (Torre del Lazzaretto) are also historically interesting.
There are also some archeological sites of Herdoniae and some Roman settlements.
The agricultural productions include: wheat, dessert grapes, olive oil, artichokes and other vegetables. Because of a somewhat homogenous development on the local territory, it has been subject, during the years, to emigration which halted the economical growth.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
about 25.4 km from Foggia
Foggia
Foggia is a city and comune of Apulia, Italy, capital of the province of Foggia. Foggia is the main city of a plain called Tavoliere, also known as the "granary of Italy".-History:...
, in the region of Puglia, southern Italy. It stretches to the Southern patch of the Tavoliere (Foggia's plain) to the right of Carapelle stream.
The origins of the name "Orta" are rather controversial, as it may indicate: "crooked-born", from Latin ortus, or "garden" from the Latin word hortus, or also "East".
History
The Romans built a courier post in the area, previously a territory of the Daunians.In the early Middle Ages a hamlet, whose name is mentioned in a document dating back to 1184, was built on the ruins of the Roman post. This hamlet came under the control of the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
abbey of Venosa
Venosa
Venosa is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata, in the Vulture area. It is bounded by the comuni of Barile, Ginestra, Lavello, Maschito, Montemilone, Palazzo San Gervasio, Rapolla and Spinazzola....
.
Under the Italo-Norman
Italo-Norman
The Italo-Normans, or Siculo-Normans when referring to Sicily, were the Italian-born descendants of the first Norman conquerors to travel to the southern Italy in the first half of the eleventh century...
rule the Palace of Orta had its Concergius—a knight noted for his war capabilities—charged with guarding a castle or palace. In 1269 Pietro Galesio became Contergius, followed Raolino Normando followed. With the arrival of Henry VI
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VI was King of Germany from 1190 to 1197, Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197 and King of Sicily from 1194 to 1197.-Early years:Born in Nijmegen,...
of Hohenstaufen
Hohenstaufen
The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of German kings in the High Middle Ages, lasting from 1138 to 1254. Three of these kings were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor. In 1194 the Hohenstaufens also became Kings of Sicily...
, Orta and its hamlet were part of a territorial defending plan as some documents attest.
Instead of the hamlet, a castrum was built under Hanry's son, Frederick II
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
, a sort of little country villa used for recreation. Here he had a castle built where he could hunt in the wood in its neighbourhood.
In 1271, after the Angevine
Capetian House of Anjou
The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century...
conquest of southern Italy, renovations were started by a royal "carpentier", Jean de Toul. In 1282 the castle of Orta, together with other five in the area, is attested to be directly managed by the royal court.
From the 14th century until the Aragonese conquest a darken epoch follows, in which the first conflicts started with the local pasture of the Teutonic Knights and continued having bad harvest and epidemic dating back to 1348, when the local province — also called "Capitanata" or "Daunia" — was struck by the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
that reduced the number of inhabitants by 35 %.
The Fiefdom of Orta was purchased by the Jesuits of the Roman College in 1611; they also purchased the fiefdom of Stornara, the property of Ordona and the feudal farms of Stornara and Carapelle. The Jesuits were expelled from the Kingdom of Naples in 1767 with the seizure of the lands of Orta Nova and the close territories of Ordona (Herdoniae), Stornara, Stornarella and Carapelle; they were switched by the Royal Household, whence the name of "5 Royal Lands" (the 5 Reali Siti) or five agricultural colonies.
With the abolition of feudalism in 1808, Orta became an independent town with Ordona and Carapelle, and, after Italy's unification, in 1863 it received the name of Nova, to distinguish it from two similar-named Italian towns (Orta San Giulio
Orta San Giulio
Orta San Giulio is a town and comune in the Province of Novara in the Italian region of Piedmont, located about 100 km northeast of Turin and about 40 km northwest of Novara....
and Orta di Atella
Orta di Atella
Orta di Atella is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 15 km north of Naples and about 12 km southwest of Caserta....
).
Orta Nova DOC
The area around Orta Nova is permitted to produce red and rose Italian DOC wine. The grapes are limited to a harvestHarvest (wine)
The harvesting of wine grapes is one of the most crucial steps in the process of winemaking. The time of harvest is determined primarily by the ripeness of the grape as measured by sugar, acid and tannin levels with winemakers basing their decision to pick based on the style of wine they wish to...
yield of 15 tonnes/ha with the finished red wines need a minimum alcohol level of 12% and the roses needing at least 11.5% alcohol. The wines are predominantly composed of at least 60% Sangiovese
Sangiovese
Sangiovese is a red Italian wine grape variety whose name derives from the Latin sanguis Jovis, "the blood of Jove"...
with up to 40% of a blend of Uva di Troia
Uva di Troia
Uva di Troia is a red wine grape variety grown in the Italian region of Puglia, particularly in the areas around Andria and Barletta, and in the Province of Bari....
, Montepulciano
Montepulciano (grape)
Montepulciano is a red Italian wine grape variety that is most noted for being the primary grape behind the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita wine Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane and the Denominazione di origine controllata wines of Rosso Conero and Rosso Piceno.It should...
, Lambrusco Maestri and Trebbiano
Trebbiano
Trebbiano is the second most widely planted grape in the world. It gives good yields, but makes undistinguished wine at best. It can be fresh and fruity, but does not keep long. Its high acidity makes it important in Cognac production...
. However, Lambrusco and Trebbiano are further limited to each comprising no more than 10% of the blend.
Main sights
- Chiesa Madre della Beata Vergine Maria Addolorata
- Palazzo Campese
The ex-Jesuit convent (1611) and the tower on its top, the Tower of the Lazeret (Torre del Lazzaretto) are also historically interesting.
There are also some archeological sites of Herdoniae and some Roman settlements.
Economy
The area of Orta Nova is intensively given over to agriculture, except some wine-producing households.The agricultural productions include: wheat, dessert grapes, olive oil, artichokes and other vegetables. Because of a somewhat homogenous development on the local territory, it has been subject, during the years, to emigration which halted the economical growth.