The origin of Martina Franca comes from the 10th century. The town born up the S. Martino's mountain because the residents escaped from Saracens.

In 1300, Filippo d'Angiņ, Taranto's prince, gave civil rights to people that lived in this town: for this reason the town gave the name "Franca", keeping also the old name dedicated to mount (Martina).

Martina Franca had the town-walls with 24 towers.

In 1388,  Raimondello Orsini, the new Taranto's prince, built the castle. In 1400 the Taranto's princedom and the king's property competed for the town.

In 1507 the town were a Caracciolo's dukedom, but the people rised against Caracciolo's family.

The Caracciolo's family controlled Martina Franca until the 1827.

In 1799 the town partecipated to repubblican's movements.

The city has many palaces of Baroque and Rococo look and bears tipic white wine currently.