Monteleone di Puglia (Irpinian: Munteleòne) is a hill town and comune of the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of south-eastern Italy.

Monteleone di Puglia
Comune di Monteleone di Puglia
Monteleone
Monteleone
Coat of arms of Monteleone
Location of Monteleone di Puglia
Map
Monteleone di Puglia is located in Italy
Monteleone di Puglia
Monteleone di Puglia
Location of Monteleone di Puglia in Italy
Monteleone di Puglia is located in Apulia
Monteleone di Puglia
Monteleone di Puglia
Monteleone di Puglia (Apulia)
Coordinates: 41°10′N 15°16′E / 41.167°N 15.267°E / 41.167; 15.267
CountryItaly
RegionApulia
ProvinceFoggia (FG)
Government
 • MayorGiovanni Campese
Area
 • Total
36.42 km2 (14.06 sq mi)
Elevation842 m (2,762 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2017)[3]
 • Total
1,019
 • Density28/km2 (72/sq mi)
DemonymMonteleonesi
Time zoneUTC 1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC 2 (CEST)
Postal code
71020
Dialing code0881
WebsiteOfficial website

Its territory borders the municipalities of Accadia, Anzano di Puglia, Ariano Irpino (AV), Panni, San Sossio Baronia (AV), Sant'Agata di Puglia, Savignano Irpino (AV), Zungoli (AV).

History

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The town was historically inhabited by Provençal refugees (followers of the Waldensian Protestant rite)[4] and Arbëreshë community,[5] but both have since assimilated. Until 16th century Monteleone did not have its own territory, because it was part of the city of Ariano.[6]

In 1942, during World War II, Monteleone was the seat of a revolt women, sparked by the arrogance of a Carabinieri officer who confiscated a pot of corn flour that was being carried to a local bakery by three women.[7] The women resisted, pleading with the officer. The women were brought by the officer to the Fascist regime-appointed mayor. The mayor sided with the officer, and the women were promptly imprisoned in a warehouse filled with cheese and other foods. The women set the warehouse on fire and escaped. Upon hearing of the hoards of food being stored by the Carabinieri while the people were hungry, an angry mob formed and the Carabinieri office was stormed. Police had trouble controlling the riot and fired warning shots into the air. Soon after, police began firing bullets towards the crowd. Eventually, the citizens of Monteleone - armed with clubs and pitchforks - were subdued when renfoircements were sent by the prefect of Foggia, Giovanni Dolfin. Overall, 180 citizens were arrested and detained. Most rioters arrested had to serve a prison sentence of between a few days and 15 months. This revolt was the first of its kind in Italy during the Second World War.[citation needed]

In the years following the war, a large number of migrants from the town and their descendants established an expatriate community in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There is a club in Toronto for those who have roots in Monteleone.[8]

Festivals

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The patron saints of Monteleone are San Rocco and Saint John the Baptist.[citation needed]

People

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Monteleone is the birthplace of the Canadian politician Joe Volpe.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Monteleone di Puglia". Tuttitalia (in Italian).
  3. ^ All demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat)
  4. ^ Comune di Monteleone di Puglia: Monteleone e i Valdesi
  5. ^ Gjovalin Shkurtaj, Shpirti i arbrit rron
  6. ^ Tommaso Vitale (1794). Storia della regia città di Ariano e sua diocesi (in Italian). Rome: Stamperia Salomoni. p. 331.
  7. ^ a b "When women of Monteleone rebelled". Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  8. ^ "Monteleone TORONTO SOCIAL CLUB". Monteleone TORONTO SOCIAL CLUB. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
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