Margherita d'Austria e Ortona ( Italy)

 Margaret of Austria is  the prominent  personalitie  who scored significantly political, economic and administrative live of the ancient Abruzzo,  projecting  it into the great  national and european history.

On February 21st 1582, Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Parma, daughter of Emperor Charles V, purchases, for 54,000 ducats , the City of Ortona.

The city's economy was based on agriculture and the harbor, with considerable trade with the Mediterranean countries.

Margarita made his triumphal entry into Ortona at the end of October 1583, hosted in the house of Messer Camillo De Sanctis, in Piazza San Tommaso.

She  had to build a palace in Ortona that would  reflect the  magnitude of the daughter of the Emperor Charles V and sister of King Philip II.

The construction of the palace meant for the City and for the entire Abruzzo a cultural  remarkable happening.

Under each cornerstone of the building was laid in memory of the Duchess  three  bronze medals with the image of Margaret.

Today  the  splendid setting of Palazzo Farnese in Ortona, from 19 April to 30 June 2013, incorporates a new exciting exhibition dedicated to Margaret of Austria.

The event offers many valuable works of the National Museum of Abruzzo earthquake-damaged and subjected to careful renovations in the last four years...

... masterpieces of painting and sculpture  by contemporary artists of Margaret to be rediscovered!

http://www.voxmilitiae.it/2012/08/larte-in-abruzzo-al-tempo-di-margherita-daustria/

http://www.sbsae-aq.beniculturali.it/