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Mattinata has very old origins. Archeological studies have shown that the
territory of Mattinata, as well as the whole Gargano, was inhabited
over the first age of the stone. They have found several stoned and metal
manufactured aricles. In Mount Saraceno (Mattinata bay), there are ancient
villages built by "Dauni" people. Afterwards the territory was inhabited by
Japigi, Pelasgi and Elleni. 2 Km eastwards Mattinata, on the seaside, there
was a town called "Matinum": they have found remains such as fine oriental
marbles, mosaic floors, undergrounds, aqueducts, golden, silver and bronze
coins. They do not know when exactly Matino has disappeared, but, int he
beginning of XII century, it was not there anymore. In 1103, count Guglielmo
of Monte S. Angelo talked about "Matinata": born from Matino. In 1158, pope
Adriano IV used to talk about Matinatella: little Matinata. There are
several monasteries and churches coming from that period, however houses
were spare, mostly caves, straw-ricks. Slavs, Hungarians and Greeks had attacked
the inhabitants. For this reason, in 1537, Don Pedro di Toledo built the
watchtowers on Mount Saraceno and Mount Barone. The actual Mattinata dates
back to 1780. In 1955 it was declared autonomous after having been district
of Monte S. Angelo. Very important is the church of S. Maria delle Luce: in
1842 it was given the title of "Mitrata" abbey. From Mattinata, on a 9 Km.
inner road, you can get Monte Sacro (872 m.). In V century, Lorenzo
Maiorano, bishop of Siponto, went there to destroy the pagan temple of
"dodoneus" Jupiter and get it as christian temple. Afterwards the temple was
enlarged and a coomunity of monks lived in there.
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Population
6.385
Altitude m 70
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