Mottola

Mottola
Mòtele (Neapolitan)
Comune di Mottola
Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Mottola
Nickname: 
Spia dello Ionio
Location of Mottola
Mottola
Location of Mottola in Italy
Mottola
Mottola (Apulia)
Coordinates: 40°38′N 17°02′E / 40.633°N 17.033°E / 40.633; 17.033
CountryItaly
RegionApulia
ProvinceTaranto
Founded1300 BC
Government
  MayorGiovanni Piero Barulli
Area
  Total
213.96 km2 (82.61 sq mi)
Elevation
387 m (1,270 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2017)
  Total
15,842
  Density74/km2 (190/sq mi)
DemonymMottolesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
74017
Dialing code099
Patron saintSan Tommaso Becket
WebsiteOfficial website

Mottola (Mottolese: Mòtele, IPA: [ˈmɔːtələ]) is a town and comune in the province of Taranto and region of Apulia in southeast Italy.

It stands on a hill 387 metres (1,270 ft) above mean sea level in the sub-region of Murgia. It is also called "The Ionian Spy" for its strategic geographical position. From various points of the town all of the Gulf of Taranto can be seen. The economy is based mostly on agriculture and food production (olives, wine, citrus fruits, vegetables). Tourism and the manufacture of wooden fixtures are also being developed.