Province of Avellino

Province of Avellino
Province
Palazzo Caracciolo, the provincial seat.

Coat of arms

Map highlighting the location of the province of Avellino in Italy
Country  Italy
Region Campania
Capital(s) Avellino
Comuni 119
Government
 • Presidente Domenico Gambacorta
Area
 • Total 2,806 km2 (1,083 sq mi)
Population (30 June 2016)[1]
 • Total 423,932
 • Density 150/km2 (390/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code 83010-83018, 83020-83032, 83034-83054, 83056-83059
Telephone prefix 081, 082, 0824, 0825, 0827, 0835
Vehicle registration AV
ISTAT 064

The Province of Avellino (Italian: Provincia di Avellino) is a province in the Campania region of Southern Italy. The area is characterized by numerous small towns and villages scattered across the province; only two towns have a population over 20,000: its capital city Avellino and Ariano Irpino.

Geography

It has an area of 2,806 square kilometres (1,083 sq mi) and a total population of 427,310 in 2012. There are 118 comuni in the province, with the main towns being Avellino and Ariano Irpino.[2] See Comuni of the Province of Avellino.

It is an inner province, with no connection to the sea.

History

Ruins of the town Aeclanum.

The ancient name of the area was "Hirpinia" (modern Italian: Irpinia), derived from the Oscan term hirpus ("wolf"), an animal that is still present in the territory, though in greatly reduced numbers.

In the province of Avellino there are many archaeological Roman sites, with Aeclanum being the most important, whereas in the Middle Age the County of Ariano was the first political body established in 1022 by the Normans in the South of Italy, and there King Roger II in 1140 promulgated the Assizes of Ariano, the first legislative code of the Kingdom.

In the medieval Kingdom of Naples (later Kingdom of Two Sicilies) the provincial area roughly corresponded to the Principato Ultra, though some places were included in Capitanata or Principato Citra. The modern province was established in 1860, after the unification of Italy.

Main sights

The Norman Castle in Ariano Irpino.

Tourist destinations are the Sanctuaries of Montevergine, San Gerardo Maiella of Caposele and San Francesco a Folloni; the ski resort of Laceno; the Norman Castle and the Cathedral Church of Ariano Irpino, the archeological areas of Avella and Aeclanum, the Lancellotti castle in Lauro, the medieval town of Gesualdo, the Roman ruins of Abellinum and the early Christian basilica in Prata. The Selachoidei National Gallery at Avellino houses one of the largest collections of cartilaginous fishes in the country.

Natural attractions include the Monti Piacentini and Partenio Regional Parks, together with two WWF sites, Valle della Caccia in Senerchia and the area around the Ofanto dam in Conza della Campania.

Cuisine

Typical products are hazelnuts (one third of the whole Italian production), the chestnut of Montella, the renowned wines Aglianico, Taurasi, Greco and Fiano, cherries, cheeses (as the caciocavallo of Montella), the black truffle of Bagnoli Irpino, the olive oil of Ariano Irpino.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Population data from Istat
  2. ↑ "Avellino Stats". UpiNet.it. 20 November 2007. Archived from the original on 7 August 2007.


Coordinates: 40°54′55″N 14°47′23″E / 40.91528°N 14.78972°E / 40.91528; 14.78972

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