Oria (town)

Encyclopedia : O : OR : ORI : Oria (town)

---

Oria (or Orra) is a town in the Apulia region, in the province of Brindisi, in southern Italy.

History

In classical times, Oria was known as Hyria (Uria) or Hyrium, a city in ancient Messapia and one of the principal Messapian cities. It was located just north of the ancient town Manduria, at some distance southwest of Brundisium, and southeast of Taras/Tarentum; corresponding to the location of the modern town.

According to Herodotus (7.170) it was founded by the Messapians (who according to Herodotus were originally Cretans) sometime after the abortive siege of the Sicanian city Camicus. Between 217 and 84 BCE the city was minting its own coins. The coins often feature Iapagus, the Iapygian national hero.

Hyria was conquered by the Romans. It was destroyed in 924 and 977 CE. In 1266, Oria was besieged by Manfred of Sicily.

People from Oria

The neoclassisictic writer Francesco Milizia was born in Oria in 1725.

Twin cities

• - Lorch, Germany.