Province of Foggia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Province of Foggia
Foggia
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| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Apulia |
| Capital | Foggia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7,190 km2 (2,780 sq mi) |
| Population
(2005)
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| • Total | 686,856 |
| • Density | 96/km2 (250/sq mi) |
| Postal Code |
71100
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| Telephone prefix |
0881
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| ISTAT | 071 |
| Vehicle registration | FG |
| No. of communes | 64 |
The Province of Foggia is a province in the Apulia (Puglia) region of southern Italy.
This province is also known as Daunia (after Daunians, a Iapygian pre-Roman tribe living in the territory) or else Capitanata, originally Catapanata, because during the Middle Ages it was governed by a catepan, as part of the Catepanate of Italy. Its capital is the city of Foggia.
Geography
The province of Foggia can be divided in three parts: one centered in its capital Foggia called Tavoliere, another sided along the Apennines named Daunian Mountains and the third one representing the spur of the boot-shaped Italian peninsula called Gargano.
The Tavoliere is an important agricultural area: grapefruit, olives, durum wheat and tomato are the chief products. It is also called "the granary of Italy" because of its important production of wheat.
Daunian Mountains lie along the border with Molise and Campania. Scattered with small villages only, the mountains are mostly covered by forests and pastures, with the main produce being hams and caciocavallo cheese. Faetar, a francoproveçal dialect, is spoken in two villages: Faeto and Celle di San Vito.
The Gargano is a peninsula partly mountainous and partly covered by a forest, Foresta Umbra with vegetation typical of Central Europe, the only lasting part in Italy of the ancient Black Forest. Allegedly its name comes from the word ombra (shadow) because of its thickness that prevents the light to enter in contrast with the typical flora. The coast of Gargano is rich in beaches and touristic facilities. In the north are two major salt lakes Lesina and Varano. It is also important for the production of olives, olive oil and both mountain and sea typical food products.
Population
It has an area of 7,007 square kilometres (2,705 sq mi) and a total population of 627,102 (2012). There are currently 61 comuni (singular: comune) in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Foggia.
Population centers
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Main centers in the province are:
- Foggia, the capital and native city of opera composer Umberto Giordano.
- San Severo, the old capital and city of comics artist Andrea Pazienza.
- San Giovanni Rotondo, home of Padre Pio and place of the church devoted to him.
- Manfredonia and Vieste archiepiscopal see of Apulia
- Vieste, Mattinata and Peschici, notable sea-side resorts
- Lucera, residence of Frederick II at the beginning of the 13th century. During the Middle-Ages it was the most important town of the province.
Other centers of interest are:
- Cerignola, native town of philologist Nicola Zingarelli founder of the Zingarelli Italian dictionary and syndicalist Giuseppe Di Vittorio
- Torremaggiore, native town of Nicola Sacco
- Troia, 10th century cathedral
- Margherita di Savoia, major center of salt production (and will be one of the three municipalities leaving the province in 2009 to form the new Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani)
- Celle di San Vito and Faeto two towns where an extremely rare dialect of the Franco-Provençal language has been spoken since the 14th century. The dialect, Cigliaje and Faetar, is only spoken by 1,400 people in the world.
Economy
Although less important than once before, the agricultural sector remains the mainstay of Foggia's economy, so much that its area is nicknamed the "granary of Italy". The few industries present are mostly devoted to food processing.
Almost every peeled tomato in Europe comes from the province of Foggia in southern Italy. Every year, two million tons of tomatoes are produced but the farmers get only eight cents per kilo. In order to survive in the free market economy most tomatoes-farmers recruit illegal immigrants.
Tourism
Foggia receives many Catholic pilgrims each year to locations such as the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel in Monte Sant'Angelo which was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1987 and to nearby San Giovanni Rotondo the home of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina from 1916 until his death in 1968.
Images for kids
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Foggia, entrance arch of the imperial palace of Frederick II
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Foggia para niños
