MARTINA FRANCA

town, Taranto provincia, Puglia (Apulia) regione, southeastern Italy. It has numerous Baroque buildings, such as the Church of San Martino, the Corte palace, and particularly the civic centre, a former ducal palace (1669). In 1529, during the war against the Holy Roman emperor Charles V, the town repelled the besieging French troops of Francis I. An agricultural centre, it is also noted for hosiery manufacture. Pop. (1993 est.) mun., 45,713.