Martano

Martano
Comune
Comune di Martano
The old city
Location of Martano
Martano Location of Martano in Italy Martano Martano (Apulia)
Coordinates: 40°12′N 18°18′E
Country	Italy
Region	Apulia
Province	Lecce (LE)
Frazioni	None
Government
• Mayor	Fabio Tarantino
Area
• Total	21 km2 (8 sq mi)
Elevation	92 m (302 ft)
Population  (December 31, 2004)
• Total	9,573
• Density	460/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Demonym	Martanesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	73025
Dialing code	0836
Patron saint	Saint Dominic and Our Lady of the Assumption
Saint day	August 8 and 15
Website	Official website

Martano (Griko: Μαρτάνα, translit. Martána; Salentino: Martanu) is a town and comune of 9,573 inhabitants in the province of Lecce in Apulia, Italy, 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Lecce and 18 kilometres (11 mi) from Otranto. It is the biggest town of Grecìa Salentina, a Greek-speaking area where the elders can also speak an ancient dialect called Griko.

Sights

The main attraction is the medieval castle in the old town centre, largely rebuilt in the 15th century retaining some features of the previous century, while the biggest churches are those devoted to the Mother of the Assumption and to Madonna del Rosario. The town also owns the highest menhir in Apulia, Santu Totaru menhir, at 4.80 metres (15.7 ft), and an ancient Cistercians monastery devoted to the Mother of the Consolation.

• 
  City hall with monument of Salvatore Trinchese
• 
  Cistercians monastery
• 
  Castle tower

Notable people

• Giuseppe Grassi, who signed the Constitution of Italy in 1948
• Salvatore Trinchese, marine biologist of the 19th century