BRINDISI THROUGH THE HISTORY

The city’s name derives from Brunda meaning, “The Head of a Deer”, inspired by the shape of Brindisi’s natural harbour.
Its splendour came during the Roman Age.
In 267 BC The Romans conquered the city, creating a colony and lengthening Via Appia leading to the port, which from then on became one of the principalities of Italy. They constructed temples, baths, the amphitheater, the mint and aqueducts.
From 58 to 48 BC Cicero visited the city on a regular basis, were he was friendly received. During this period of time, hard battles were fought between Pompeius and Caesar who were both aiming to supremacy.
On 19th September 19 BC, poet Virgil, who wrote verses of Aeneas, died at his home in Brindisi which was located in the area of the Roman Columns (photo).

Caesar's besiege to Pompeius. Palladio - 1619

With the fall of the Roman empire, the city of Brindisi falled and was dominated by Goths, Ostrogoths and Greek Byzantines. Greek Byzantines ruled even through the Saracines and Longobard invasions, up until the arrival of the Normans around 1070.
After the Normans, the Swabians followed, led by emperor Frederick II (1221); the Town was re-launched in its role of main departure point to East during the age of the Crusaders (1096-1291 - more info). In 1268 the swabians were followed by the Angevin. Then, after the domination of the Aragoneses and the Venecianes, the Spanish returned.
After the Austrian rule in 1707-1734, the city of Brindisi went through Bourbon rule in 1759.
With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the Indian Mail Route, a British shipping operation, estabilished a naval link with routes from Brindisi to Bombay and back (more info).

The king Vittorio Emanuele III arrived in Brindisi

During the 1st World War, Brindisi was bombed approximately thirty times by enemy forces; from its port, Italian naval ships and submarines left for 207 missions of war; so, the Military Cross of Honor was brought to the city.
During the Fascist era there was great interest from Mussolini, to upgrade the port, as well as the city.
Also during the 2nd World War Brindisi was subject of aerial attacks from its enemies, suffering great structural and housing damage.
On the 10th September 1943, King Vittorio Emanuele III with his Queen disembarked and, up until February 1944, Brindisi was capital of Italy (more info).

Nowadays, approximately 100 thousand inhabitants live in Brindisi.

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