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The Origins of our city, traces back to the Roman period
according to some sources. Such affirmations are few document.
Some recoveries of graves and furnishings already date the
existence of a village of fishermen in the IV° century a.C.
This hypothesis is likely in as much as, for its position
our city offered a valid landing to the commerces of Rubo
(Ruvo of Puglia). The first indication of a site place between
Turenum (Trani) and Natiolum (Giovinazzo) is mentioned on
the Itinerarium Provinciarum Antonini August, dated around
the 217 d.C.. Such place was denominated RESPA, probable wrong
transcript of the toponymy MELPHA. It's obviate that had to
treat of a small village of fishermen. The first official
document that quotes our city traces back to the November
of the 925 d.C.. Such document certifies the existence of
a civitas, denominated MELFI, situated on a peninsula named
S.Andrea's. The city was developed under the Byzantine dominion.
To the beginning of the XI century the Norman arrived and
our city it succeeded in preserving a discreet autonomy that
facilitated the development of it. It was in this period that
the city it became protagonist in the commerces with the east.
In fact the transit of the pilgrims toward the Holy Land,
on the occasion of the Crusades and the standstill of the
same near the Saint Maria Martyrs's hospitum permitted that
the city to European level assumed an importance. Was one
of the so many pilgrims CONRAD of BAVIERA, that enamoured
of our earth remained to become, to his death, the Protecting
Saint. During the domination Angevin the city succeeded in
remaining autonomous. The troubles came with the arrival of
the Aragonesis. There was an enough turbulent period of struggles
between French, Spanish and Italian. These wars provoked death
and destruction in the whole south with events that would
have marked our history forever. One of these is the SACK
Of MOLFETTA, happened in the days 18 and 19 July of 1529,
episode that for a long period it prevented the economic rebirth
of the city.
Freely drawn from:
"MOLFETTA
una città riflessa nel suo porto" di C. PISANI
- Ed. Mezzina
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