CORATO

town, Bari province, Puglia (Apulia) region, southeastern Italy, on a slope descending to the Adriatic Sea, west of Bari. Founded by the Normans, Corato became subject to Alfonso V, king of Aragon, at the end of the 15th century, and later to the Carafa family. The chief features of the ancient centre of the town, which is surrounded by modern buildings, are the Romanesque church of Sta. Maria Maggiore, the Gothic church of S. Domenico, and the Catalano and Ottinera palaces. Corato is an agricultural market for fruit, vegetables, and cereals and produces wine and olive oil. Pop. (1981 prelim.) mun., 41,138.