Avellino and Irpinia - In Campania

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not to be missed Irpino Museum, Avellino Sanctuary of Montevergine Collegiate Church of Solofra Basilica dell’Annunziata, Prata di Principato Ultra Aeclanum Excavations San Guglielmo al Goleto Abbey irpinia in 1 day Avellino Sanctuary of Montevergine irpinia in 3 days Avellino Sanctuary of Montevergine Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi Mirabella Eclano Conza Archaeological Park shopping Lace Marble objects Straw works Incised wood Wine and typical products outings with children Gesualdo Castle Lancellotti Castle (Lauro) Lake Laceno Oasis of Monte Polveracchio and Valle della Caccia Lake Conza oasis 150 151 View of Irpinia events February _Pork and Sausage Festival Senerchia Carnival _Montemarano Carnival Montemarano May _Ricotta and Cheese Festival Bagnoli Irpino May-July _Short and Long - Frontier Films Province of Avellino June-August _Vibrations and Whispers Various municipalities in the Province of Avellino July _Music in Irpinia International orchestra review Loreto Abbey at Mercogliano _Mediterranean Footpaths International review of ethnic music Summonte, Regional Partenio Park _Boletus Mushroom Festival Salza Irpina Montoro Superiore July-September _Travelling Concerts in Irpinia (amphitheatres, castles, piazzas and historical palazzi) _Ariano Summer Ariano Irpino August _Ariano Folk Festival Ariano Irpino _International Folklore Meetings Taurano _Boletus Mushroom Festival Montoro Superiore _Wild Boar Festival Montoro Superiore _Sergio Leone Prize Torella dei Lombardi September _Interferences Festival of multimedia arts San Martino Valle Caudina _Art Under the Stars Mugnano del Cardinale _Greco di Tufo Festival Tufo _Hazelnut Festival Baiano _Cinema Nights Avellino October _Hot Air Balloon Rally Fragneto Monforte _Chestnut and Truffle Festival Bagnoli Irpino December _Living Crib Forino _Torrone (Nougat) Festival Ospedaletto d'Alpinolo art and archaeology Historic centres of Avellino, Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi, Mirabella Eclano Irpino Museum, Avellino Sanctuary of Montevergine nature and parks Partenio Regional Park Monti Picentini Regional Nature Park for young people Lake Laceno Mount Terminio specialities Chestnuts, apples, hazelnuts Mushrooms and truffles Sheep cheese and caciocavallo Docg Wines Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, Taurasi spas and fitness Ancient thermal baths of San Teodoro, Villamaina
Avellino, Mercogliano and the Sanctuary of Montevergine famous travellers …the Campania, exceptional for the cultivation of the vine. Pliny the Elder, I AD 152 The capital Avellino is located in a splendid natural setting, surrounded by the Picentini Mountains. In the centre, with its modern feel, one finds interesting historical buildings; the Cathedral, with the beautiful neoclassical façade has paintings from the 1500’s and a splendid Roman crypt. The bell tower is majestic. The symbol of the town is the Baroque Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower) in the Piazza Amendola, which rises above the rooftops of the town. Other representative monuments are the Fontana di Bellerofonte (XVII century), designed by Cosimo Fanzago, and the remains of the Longobard Castle. The Irpino Museum preserves archaeological material found in the province. In the various rooms (archaeology, renaissance and modern) we find authentic masterpieces: relics from ancient Abellinum, among which a magnificent mosaic; the interesting reconstruction of the rich tomb of a chief from Mirabella Eclano, buried together with his dog; wooden statues from the Sanctuary of Mefite in the valley of the Ansanto river; ceramics, porcelain, paintings of the Neapolitan school between the XVII and the XIX century, and a marvellous Neapolitan crib from the 1700’s. From the mountain range of the Partenio (at 1270 meters above sea level), the Sanctuary of Montevergine dominates the city of Avellino. It is the most famous and visited Marian sanctuary of the South, destination of pilgrims from every part of Italy. On the road to the Sanctuary rises Mercogliano, in an evocative surrounding of mountains and hills. Besides the architectural beauty one can admire the splendid view which extends to the gulf of Naples. Here we find the Abbey of Loreto, masterpiece of Domenico Antonio Vaccaro (18 th century), rich in art works and historical documents, with a charming cloister (concerts in summertime) and a library which holds parchment documents, papal bulls and precious incunabula. Near Mercogliano it is worth your while to make a detour in order to discover the Medieval village of Capo Castello, with the remains of the Norman Castle. From Mercogliano one can drive along the panoramic road or take the cableway which in 7 minutes takes you up a breathtaking slope to the famous Sanctuary of Montevergine, just below the top of Mount Partenio, in a marvellous wooded landscape. The Sanctuary was founded in 1124 on the remains of a temple dedicated to the goddess Cibele. Every year two million pilgrims walk up to render homage to the “Mamma Schiavona”, the black Madonna depicted in a painting of the 13 th century. The most important times for the pilgrimage are May, August and September, to celebrate Pentecost, the Assumption and the Birth of Maria (the traditional “iuta a Montevergine”, which means “outing to Montevergine”). Also important is the feast of San Guglielmo da Vercelli, founder of this church (June 25). The faithful walk up to the sanctuary or travel on wagons decorated with flowers and garlands to the sound of traditional music. The architecture of the monastery and the guest quarters are sober, but the interior of the new Basilica (1952-1961) is luxuriously decorated. The throne with the large panel depicting the black Madonna of Montevergine (late 13 th century) is located in the Presbytery. From the back of the lateral naves one enters the “Chiesa vecchia” (old church), Gothic but restructured in the 1600’s, which holds a precious collection of art works. In the Sanctuary Museum one finds noble sepulchral monuments and a permanent exhibit of cribs from the 1700’s to the present. Sanctuary of Montevergine Avellino, Testa Palace Abbey of Mercogliano 153 the earthquake of 1980 In 1980 Irpinia was devastated by a terrible earthquake. Many people lost their lives and the destruction was widespread. Its tenacious and hard working people, however, have been able to make much of the beauty of this land shine again. accomodations in monasteries The Sanctuary of Montevergine offers hospitality in its guest quarters for groups and individuals, who can also take advantage of the cultural programmes organized by the monks and try the delicious honey and the famous herb based liquors. Women can find hospitality in the Benedictine convent in a villa of the 1700’s. The convent of San Francesco a Montella, the female monastery of Santa Lucia in Serino and the Abbey of Goleto all offer hospitality. The Carnival in Montemarano The most exciting carnival festivites are in Montemarano, a town east of Avellino, at the foot of the Picentini mountains. For centuries the people of the town dress up and dance endlessly to the frenetic rhythm known as the “tarantella Montemaranese”, the most complex and original tarantelle performed today. More than three thousand people celebrate carnival with this irresistible rhythmic music and dancing, processions and comfits throwing. typical products The typical products among these hills and mountains are innumerable: the chestnuts of Montella and Serino, the walnuts of Avella known the world over, honey, mushrooms, black truffles from Bagnoli Irpino, the tomatoes of Montoro, the cheeses of Montella and Bagnoli and the cured meats of Mirabella Eclano. The Irpinian farms, often still family businesses, are still cultivated with traditional methods to obtain biological products of the highest quality. Many of these farms also offer accomodations, a genuine and comfortable version of farm holiday.
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Avellino and Irpinia - In Campania

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