Castellaneta

History

Human settlements were present in the area since the Bronze Age (3rd–2nd millennium BC), and it was later probably settled by Sicels, Messapii and Iapyges. According to a theory, a fortified city (Castania in Latin) was founded in 550 and grew in size when the population of neighbouring cities fled there from Saracen attacks. Other historians maintain instead that it was a Greek colony which existed until the 8th century. When the Saracens destroyed it, the inhabitants joined in a Castellum Unitum (United Castle) on the hills, whence the current name. Whatever its origin, Castellaneta was conquered by the Normans in 1064, taken by Duke Robert of Taranto, who expelled its Byzantine inhabitants. At that time, probably, the episcopal see was created. In the 13th century Charles of Anjou turned it first into a fief, and later into a King's city. In 1503, during the Italian Wars, the citizens pushed back a French occupation force under the Duke of Nemours, in the so-called "Sack of Castellaneta". In 1519 the Spaniards sold it to Flemish feudatories, and thenceforth the city started to decline as secondary centre. In 1944, Castellaneta was bombed by the withdrawing German military, killing 27 people. The city received a bronze medal for civic valour. A six-story apartment building in the city collapsed in February 1985, killing 21 people and injuring 9. The foundation was believed to have been severely weakened by torrential rains following a harsh winter in Italy.

Most-observed species

• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  102
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  89
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  74
• Eurasian Kestrel

  Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  69
• Mastic Tree

  Pistacia lentiscus L. · Magnoliopsida
  65
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  61
• Sardinian Warbler

  Curruca melanocephala (J.F.Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  61
• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  54

Most recent

• M 4.2 — 2026-03-06
  26 km ESE of Marina, Italy
• M 4.3 — 2025-03-18
  3 km NE of Potenza, Italy
• M 2.7 — 2020-01-08
  1 km NW of Andria, Italy
• M 4.1 — 2018-03-23
  11 km NNE of Ostuni, Italy
• M 2.6 — 2007-09-11
  6 km SE of Rocca Imperiale Marina, Italy
• M 2.5 — 2007-03-14
  2 km NNE of Pignola, Italy