The secular “nobility” of the great Fair of Foggia is clear, it has ancient frederician and aragonese origines lived until XIX° century.
The ancient Fair thrived and became the most important wool and dairy market of the Reign of Naples and one of the most important fair in Italy and Europe. Two phenomenous of great historical importance gave Fair a considerable success: the “transumanza” and the “Dogana della Mena della Pecore di Puglia”. At the end of transumanza, the conclusion of pastoral year was celebrated in Foggia and in town Fair. This event was the most important moment for silver industry and other activities such as trade of silver products, wool, cheeses, meat and other produces of breeding. During fair days “locati” of customs, owners of flocks, buyers interested in wool industry, in dairy produces and meat, came from each place of the Reign, from Italy and from foreign countries in order to meet each others in Foggia.
Already then the Fair was a meeting place for commercial mouvements of economical and financial importance.
In 1447, (aragonese period), there was the birth of the “Regia Dogana della Mena delle Pecore”, which gave Fair a relevant role. Fair acquired a monopolistic and privileged character and obtained esclusiveness in trade of ovine prodeces in all the Reign.
Therefore, Fair was born in aragonese period with many powers and privileges living ininterruptedly for more than 400 years until the Unification. It created a particular relationship with the town of Foggia, so its history reflects town events.
Foggia was the central point of vast road pastoral system of adriatic town of the Reign. It had some peculiarities such as the lack of town walls, the presence of great warehouses for wool, several services and amusements, Foggia was the second town of the Reign after Naples for its great population. Authorities of Foggia offered protection to producers and to traders against abuse of feudal powers, banditry, wars; but the Fair took place also in the period of great confusion, for exemple: during french-spanish wars, during the Masaniello’s revolution, during the Partenopea’s revolution of ’99 and during the conquest of french troops.
However the Fair, that took place ininterruptedly for four century, suffered an inevitable decline and than disappeared. The reasons were: the abolishment of the “Dogana della Mena delle Pecore” and the disappearance of transumanza, two important tradictions that let Fair institution.
At the beginning of napoleonic years, a new regime issued some radical laws, the 21th May law issued the abolishment of the “Dogana della Mena delle Pecore” of Foggia. In this way the long history of this institution finished, its abolishment had negative consequences on commercial situation in napoleonic reign and in Foggia. The law cancelled forever the “ragion pastorale”, changing agricultural system of territory, in particular there was a changement in sheep farming and agriculture relation; so only agriculture was favorized for the great interest in cereal cultures.
Fair started to disappear after the Unification, in this period there were only a little fair with livestock trade and few stalls.
During fascist years Fair had a rebirth, Fascism used fairs as place of propaganda in order to increase the image of fascist regime.
In 1934, the law n. 454 changed fair organization, so the competences of Common and Provincial Administrations were cancelled, and fair events were centralized and controlled by Government, which created the new institution of Fair Authority.
Fascist propaganda was concentrated on rural activities with several initiatives such as the Battle of Grain, Autharchy; Fair was always the best place for this type of events.
The institution of Fair Authority of Foggia was one of the most important means for rural ideology of Regime.
Fair reinstatement was organized by some important representatives of Regime, generally men of great personality, with a political and economical important role in Capitanata area. In 1935 all fair problems was considered and resolved.
Before the institution of Fair Authority, the first fairs “di saggio” took place with success in the new area (1936-1937) of Campo Fiera, situated in the district of Pila and Croce. In order to create an international fair it was organized with all necessary equipments.
In 1938 agricultural Fair of Foggia was one of the most important events of fascist period, its great success gave it an international importance.
All town economical institutions built stable works: the Consorzio Agrario, the Unione Industriali, Banco of Naples.
On 14th April 1939, the Royal Decree institued an indipendent authority in Foggia with legal personality, called Fair of Foggia that had an approved Statute.
However, in the period of regime, Fair was involved more for retoric operations than economical one.
On 4th June, four days after declaration of war Fair area was requisitioned by military authorities in order to create a warehouse for animals and a field for troops.
In fascist period news about Fair finished with the communication of Prefect Benigni, who addressed a telegram to Rome on July 1943 with which said: “ I conferm Foggia totally destroyed”.
From 1949 to 1954 trade fairs took place in Foggia, but some unsuccess arrived for two reasons: the lack of trade vocation, the near presence of the Fair of Levante in Bari.
During the decade 56-66, although the great agricultural and rural exodus towards northern industries and european countries, meridional agriculture knew a period of great expansion thanks good effects of investiments of founds, addressed to the South of Italy.
A good agricultural mechanization was created in the South of Italy, resolving the problem of lack of labour characterized by a reduction of 1 milion of workers.
In this period agricultural production grew in the South and had a tax more eleveted than the Centre and the North of Italy, this agricultural development is showed in 56th and 57th edition of Fair. In 1958 there was the first show of agricultural mechanization of the South. In those years CEE decided to prepare a pavilion in order to present a new economical reality to meridional farmers.
During the decade 66-76, attention toward Fair of Foggia increased, however tax of agricultural productivity was reduced in the South, because agricultural politic of prices favoured continental productions and unfavoured Mediterranean ones.
Fair continued to be interpreter of new agricultural situations increasing its role of stimulus and orientation with some explanatory initiatives and some discussion. The President of Council Moro had a great recognition for promotional actions of Fair. This support helped Fair to retrain existent structures, to increase activities and to develop actions in all productive sectors, which needed more revaluation.
In 1969 the President of Camera Pertini affirmed the importance of Fair of Foggia for meridional agriculture.
From 1972 official participations of commercial organizations, delegations, experts of politic of CEE countries became more and more solid visitors, so Fair of Foggia acquired an international importance.