From “I colori di Oria – Guida turistico fotografica” by Pino Malva
Nestling on the latest delle Murge to 166 meters above sea level, sentinel between the two Mari Salento peninsula of the city appears to visitors in its superb geographical location and its incomparable view of towers, domes and houses perched on the hills.
The origin of Oria be placed in the second millennium BC. With the name of the Hyria Minos of Crete, foundered on the Ionian coast, battezzarono the city who had founded.
Fusion from this with the local Greek and subsequent immigration gave rise to the people and civilization Messapica (VIII - III century BC). Oria, capital of Messapia was legendary city of King which Japigia, Idomeneo, Opis, Arta. After the defeat of Pirro (275 ac) Oria became Roman and remained faithful to Rome when the Carthaginian Hannibal appeared in plain el'assediò Salento. For Oria Hannibal met the beautiful Uriana (the "vil femminella in Puglia" Petrarch).
An important date for the city was 44 AD, when St. Peter, in his trip to Rome, sostò in Oria and preached the gospel to its inhabitants. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD) the city was under the rule of the Byzantine and began one of the most lively periods of its existence. Its strategic importance and caused military sieges and looting, destruction and fire. From center populous Roman Oria is locked within the walls of the second wall, taking the size of medieval village and left that his fertile territory ricoprisse of what documents were later called The Forest Oritana.
When Saracens began their raids in southern Italy, Brindisi and Taranto capitolarono and many of their nationals found refuge in the walls of Oria. In 888 Emperor Basil I raised in the city of ducal Abroad Subjects di Puglia investendone Duke spodestato the prince Gaitieri Lombard. Thanks to the wise government Gaitieri, in the presence on the big chair oritana Bishop Theodosius and the growing reputation of the Jewish city, at the end of the ninth century Oria regained his old military importance, political and religious.
Teodosio legò its name to a large Byzantine cathedral, the crypt to house the relics of SS Chrysanthus and Daria and the transformation of the grotto of St. Anthony Abbot basiliana in chapel for the deposition of the body dell'anacoreta eastern San Barsanofio.
The Jewish colony of Oria, became famous throughout the Mediterranean for its Talmudic school and reached its peak between the ninth and tenth century.
The memory of the ancient Jewish community is linked to the name "judea 'which is the district where she lived: an intricate maze of alleys behind white door Taranto also called for the Port of Jews. The name of Oria as well as between Christians and Jews, became known among the Arabs (like "Hauriah"), when the coasts went inland and the city had to suffer their repeated bloody attacks and culminating with the destruction of the city and the deportation of the population in 977 AD The end of the millennium for the city was particularly chaotic, characterized by political storms and natural disasters. In 979 the oritani, tired of massacres and taxes, rose up against Decubito dell'Imperatore of Byzantium gave way to revolt against the Byzantines Pugliese. The revolt continued for about half a century. During this period the citadel is intervallarono principals Greek soldiers Norman, intervened to help the rebels. In 1062 Robert Guiscardo finally defeated the Byzantines. The Norman domination lasted until 1191 when the banner Swabian Henry II was hoisted over the city. The emperor FEDERICO II appointed Oria city-owned and built the imposing CASTLE on existing fortifications Norman (1227 - 1233). The epic Oria saw the Crusades and the surrounding area at the center of great movements: the armies while waiting for boarding accampavano is in the countryside, and the same noble Frederick II staying in the city. On the death of Puer Apuliae the city to Swabians rebelled under the leadership of Thomas D'Oria who paid with their lives for his heroic undertaking. The Swabian Manfredi domò the revolt and the body of the noble oritano was made by penzolare bastions of the fortress. After the break of the Swabian, with the death of Corradino, Oria came under the dominion of Angevins rimandendovi until 1493.
In 1500 Oria was raised to Marchesato independent from Frederick of Aragon. Following the war between the French and Spanish for possession of the Kingdom of Naples, the city suffered yet another siege by the Spaniards. After two months of resistance the mayor Oggiano Bartholomew treated the yield and the city was annexed to the kingdom of Ferdinand Catholic. In 1560, the feud was ceded to Borromeo. Inherited from Cardinal of Milan San Carlo Borromeo, was sold by the bishop in 1568 to Cassano for 40,000 ducats of gold, then distributed to the poor in Milan.
In 1572 the Marquis was purchased by the Genoese nobleman David Imperiali. The Imperial, Marquis of Oria and Principles of Francavilla, the feud held until 1789, when he returned to the regional land. In the nineteenth century Oria device became a city of the Kingdom of Naples and the first of the Kingdom of Italy then continuing to be favourite destination only writers, artists and writers who, in the romantic rediscovery of the Middle Ages, the visiting looking for vestiges and atmospheres that could stimulate their imagination.
