Acquaviva delle Fonti

Acquaviva delle Fonti ("Acquaveìvə" Bari dialect) is a town of 21,060 inhabitants and comune in the province of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. The name "Acquaviva" comes from the large groundwater flowing into the subsoil; Acqua-water/Viva-alive to enhance the abundance of underground water. The elevation is 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level, and the town is 26 kilometres (16 mi) from the Adriatic Sea and Bari, which is the biggest city of the region. The Ionian Sea is more than 45 kilometres (28 mi) away. Acquaviva houses one of the biggest hospitals of all the southern Italy, the Ospedale Generale Regionale Francesco Miulli. Hospital Miulli has almost all surgery departments and even a center for the treatment of rare diseases. On 30 September 2006 was officially inaugurated the new structure of the Hospital "Francesco Miulli" in "Curtomartino" area, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) outside Acquaviva on the road for Santeramo in Colle. Forty months of implementation, more than 170 technical engineers, surveyors, architects, 90,000 square metres (970,000 sq ft) of total area, 16,000 square metres (170,000 sq ft) of which are covered. More than 600 workers employed to build this huge structure that incorporates a total of 705 beds. Climate Acquaviva enjoys a Mediterranean fresh climate with mild winters and warm to hot, dry summers. Snowfall in winter is very rare but possible. During the summer of 2008 temperatures reached as high as 42 °C (108 °F). History The origins are uncertain. Some scholars and historians trace the foundation around the 4th-5th century BC in the area of Salentino hamlet, a few kilometers from the modern town, on a hill overlooking a fertile plain area. Probably the greater fertility of the land in the valley, the abundance of spring water that flowed into the ground a few feet from the surface, or some devastation were the causes that led the people of Salentino to move to the current city center. The city's prosperity has been historically connected to its large underground aquifer. In the early Christian era it was an episcopal see, but was later destroyed by foreign invasions. Under the Aragonese domination a castle was built here. In the 15th century its fief belonged fir to the Orsini del Balzo and then, starting with Giulio Antonio Acquaviva, to the eponymous family, who held it until 1614. Main sights Acquaviva Cathedral (Concattedrale di Sant'Eustachio di Acquaviva delle Fonti), church built in the 12th century (from 1158 onwards) is located here in the old city, since 1986 a co-cathedral in the Diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti. Business The town has the highest concentration of privates companies of all the area. The industrial park of Acquaviva is quite huge considering the population. This places the town among those cities with higher GDP of all the southern Italy. Traditions The city is known for the red (purple) onion that grows on her land, called Cipolla Rossa di Acquaviva delle Fonti. The production is very limited (less than 300 tons per year) because its cultivation still uses traditional and rudimentary methods in order to preserve the aroma and the fragrance. The red onion from Acquaviva is celebrated with a festival that is held in the end of July every year. Media Acquaviva has a TV station TeleMajg broadcasting on digital platform and streaming as well, a domestic newspaper called L'eco di Acquaviva. Transportation Acquaviva has an exit on the A14 highway Taranto-Bologna; the exit is right after Bari South driving 18 kilometres (11 mi) towards Taranto. It is also home to a railway station is on the main railway Taranto-Ancona. The closest seaport is Bari, 30 kilometres (19 mi) distant, while Taranto seaport is 45 kilometres (28 mi) away. The closest international airport is the Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport, 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Acquaviva. The Brindisi – Salento Airport is 100 kilometres (62 mi) away. Famous people Maria Antonia Scalera Stellini, 17th century poet Roberto Colaninno, businessman and current president of Alitalia Antonio Lucarelli, Italian Historian and writer Giacomo Lassandro, baseball umpire and member of the Italian Baseball Hall of Fame. Vito Marino Caferra, judge Mario Napolitano, chess player Cesare Franco, composer Modesto Panetti, aeronautical engineer, politician and member of Italian parliament Donato Colafemina, concert tenor Giovanni Ingellis, author and creator of Italian games Enzo Guaricci, sculptor and designer Vito Luciani, politician, member of Italian parliament and Italian minister Silvio Cirielli, politician and member of Italian parliament in the end of 70s Ferdinando Pappalardo, politician and member of Italian parliament in the 90s Giovanni Tria, politician and writer. Ex mayor of Acquaviva Dario Di Vietri, concert tenor Livio Macchia, singer and leader of the band "Camaleonti" Gianni Masci, singer and guitarist of Jolaurlo band Mirko Eramo, soccer player Joe Mantegna, Italian-American actor and dubber. Star of "Criminal Minds" Roy Shrejmänn, Kuwaiti famous person Twin towns—Sister cities San Miguel de Allende External links