Avellino and Irpinia - In Campania

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historical documents, with a charming cloister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.