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Information Page About Capurso Geographic Location Historical Synopsis Old Town Section Map Main Town Map Religious and Folkloristic Celebrations Industry and Commerce Monuments References Geographic Location The town is located 7 km (4.4 mi) south of Bari, 5 km (3.1 mi) from the sea, at an altitude of 74 mt (243 ft) above sea level, with a surface of approximately 15,000 km2 (5,793 mi2) and a population of approximately 14,000 people. A state road, Statale 100, passes through Capurso from Bari to Taranto. Freeway A14 is a short distance away and can be reached through state roads 100 and 16. Capurso is also a stop in the railroad network of Sud-Est Company, the rail that goes from Bari to Martina Franca via Conversano. Historical Synopsis The history of Capurso does not include any great events. It follows mainly the historical profile of the Puglia region, from the Norman domination to the dominations by the Swedes and the Anjou. Polish Queen Bona Sforza gave Capurso to the family of Pappacodas, of Neapolitan origins, that decided for may years the fate of the town. The picture of the Madonna was discovered in 1705 in a ground well, hence the name Madonna of the Well. From then on the cult of Madonna of the Well became the fulcrum of public life in the town, recognized officially by the Vatican in 1852 and revered particularly by the Bourbon royalty. Significant was also in the 1970s the demographic jump caused by the influx of Baresi, and the industrial complex formed along State Road 100. Capurso is sister city to Shiller Park, a suburb of Chicago, USA, since 1994. Check out the page on Capurso history, on this site, for further historical information about Capurso. Map of Old Town Section Map of Main Town Section Religious and Folkloristic Celebrations Feast of the Patron Saint The feast in honor of the patron, St. Joseph, is held the last Sunday of May. It is a typical religious celebration, with a procession of the statue of the saint, the offering of the keys of the town to the Saint by the town's mayor, streets lighted by thousands of lights, the carnival, the fireworks, the bands marching and playing in the streets, and the playing of lyric operas on the band shell. Feast of the Madonna of the Well. The great appointment that transforms the town is the one at the end of August, when the feast of the Madonna of the Well is celebrated. There is a first procession on Friday, when the picture of the Madonna is carried to Umberto Square. The procession on Sunday is characterized by lines of faithfuls carrying large candles. The statue of the Madonna, fixed on top of a cart decorated with flowers and lights, is dragged by faithfuls in procession. A large number of faithfuls come from nearby towns: Bisceglie, Laterza, Massafra, Coronato, and Gioia del Colle. Pilgrims also come to visit the sacred well where the picture of the Madonna was found. Mardi Gras. Balls are held in the period before mardi gras, in February, with the festivities culminating on the evening of mardi gras, here called pentolaccia. Weekly Market. The market is held every week on Monday morning along the Madonna del Pozzo road connecting Gramsci Square to Libertà Square. Once a year, on the occasion of the celebrations for the Madonna of the Well, a traditional Fair of the Octave, is held on the Sunday following the feast, before September. Industry and Commerce Capurso's economy, traditionally based on farming, also includes several commercial activities, artisan businesses, and some small industries. Its most significant commercial development recently has been the construction boom caused by the influx of Baresi that have resettled in Capurso while maintaining their jobs and businesses in Bari. The religious notoriety of the Madonna of the Well contributes a notable traffic of tourists to the town. Commercial Mill/Presses. Capurso has a number of commercial mill/pressing facilities used mostly for oil and wine, and one that is owned by a farmer's cooperative. Stone Cutting. Sandstone cutting was a thriving business some times ago. The material cut in square blocks was used as a building material. Tannery. Tannery has been a particularly important industry for the town. Leather was dried out in the sun, in years past; however, currently, leather is dried by mechanical means. Pottery. A small artisan industry flourished in Capurso in the recent past that produced earthenware: vases, little statues, and ornaments, all painted by hand. Laces by Crocheting. A significant and well known industry in Capurso has been crocheting, the working by hand of laces and embroidery. It was customary to see women grouped in front of their houses, working with their hands at a prodigious speed, and creating wondeful lace works. Girovagi (Traveling Salesmen). Crocheting by many women gave rise to a remarkable commerce in laces that expanded to include embroidery and linen. Significant for this trade was the role played by traveling salesmen, girovagi, self starting entrepreneurs who wandered from town to town selling the merchandise produced in Capurso. Other Activities. Two other industries were noteworthy also: one was by Peppino Gespites, building aerostatic globes of historical and religious subjects, and the other one was by Antonio Lorusso, manufacturing fireworks. Monuments Basilica of the Madonna of the Well. The Basilica of the Madonna of the Well is the most important monument in Capurso. The first stone was placed on July 5, 1750, but the job was soon interrupted by archbishop Gaeta II, who gave the direction for the work to Ing. Giuseppe Sforza. Town's people contributed financially for the realization of this monument. The basilica, a single navel with two smaller altars on the sides, is clearly of late-baroque inspiration and was finished probably in 1778. The sanctuary is the object of continuous pilgrimages. SS. Salvatore Church. The construction of the church came by order of Bona Sforza, Queen of Poland, in 1541; construction was completed under the supervision of Don Torricella. The bell tower is beautiful and elegant, underlying the simple forms of the church externally. Under the bell tower, on a turret, was located the King of Time with a large clock. The King of Time and the clock collapsed in 1973, following water damage from rain. The church inside has interesting paintings by Calò: Madonna of the Misericordia, Vergine with Child, Presentation to the Temple, and St. Bernardino between St. Vito and St. Sebastiano. St. Francesco da Paola Church and Convent. Erected over a long period, from 1617 to the 1670, the church is clearly of baroque style. Frescoes by the Molfetta-native painter Peppe Porta are located in the cloister of the former convent, which nowadays is used as a center for social and religious initiatives. Works by other painters are also found inside the church. Town's Library. The library is modern and functional, accommodating a modest collection of books and is also an important repository of local culture. The library was realized in a short time in the early 1990s by a young architect, Adrian Ambriola. The library was built inside the town's park, in Matteotti Square, and is dedicated to the public notary Giuseppe D'Addosio. The lines of this building evoke those of the Sanctuary nearby, whose reflections can be seen from the windows of the library. References [1]. Francesco Porcelli, Parliamo di Capurso, A cura del complesso edilizio Borgo S. Michele Arcangelo. [3]. Vito Grittani, Capurso 2000, con contribuzioni di Vito Prigigallo, Giuseppe Mariella, Gino Pastore, Giacomo Santorsola e Filippo Mastrolonardo.

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