Casalbore

The Municipality of Casalbore is located within the area of the Cervaro-Miscano Valley. It's a town with 1,754 inhabitants, located 601 metres above sea level, at 55 km from Avellino. The territory extends for 28.09 sq km and the adjoining municipalities are: Buonalbergo, Ginestra degli Schiavoni, Montecalvo Irpino and San Giorgio La Molara.
The etymology of the name derives from the association of “Casale” (farmhouse) with a personal name, perhaps Albulus or Albolus, then with time becoming Arburus with juxtaposition in the meaning to the Latin term arbore (tree), so Casalbore could mean “farmhouse of the trees”. The inhabitants are called Casalboresi and Our Lady of the Snow is their patron saint.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Norman Castle and Tower - Defensive structure in Gothic style, made of local grey stone, which surrounds the Norman Tower, dating back to the 12th century and located at the highest point of Casalbore
Chapel of Santa Maria dei Bossi - It is the oldest sacred place in the town, dating back as far as pagan times, before the advent of Christianity
Museum of the Castles - In the premises of the castle area that flanks the Norman Tower, there is an educational-exhibition route, dedicated to the castles of the province of Avellino
Cave of Saint Michael the Archangel - Refuge of the early Christians during the persecutions of the Romans, presents a stone altar and an effigy of Saint Michael the Archangel
Archaeological area of the Italic Temple of Casalbore - The archaeological site offers the remains of a six-column Roman temple, probably dedicated to the Goddess Mefitis and destroyed during the Punic Wars (215 BC)
Samnite Necropolis - Archaeological area located on the route of Regio Tratturo Pescasseroli-Candela and dating back to the 5th-4th century BC
Historic Centre - Characteristic old village that stands out for its low stone buildings and stone-paved streets
Church of the Franciscan Convent - Dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, it is flanked by the Convent of the Friars Minor
Palaces - Maraviglia Palace, Gallo Palace, Caracciolo Palace, Bruno Palace, De Matteis Palace
Historical routes - Regio Tratturo (old transhumance route) Pescasseroli-Candela, Via Francigena of the South, Via Micaelica
Nature trails - The Walk of the Fifty Springs, Eco-naturalistic Path on Mount Calvello

EVENTS

Feast of Our Lady of the Snow - Religious celebration in honour of the patron saint, takes place in August
Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua - Religious event, takes place in June
Feast of Santa Maria dei Bossi - Religious event, takes place in September
Casalbore Art Festival - Artistic and cultural event that takes place in the heart of the historic centre of Casalbore, takes place in August
Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel - Religious event, takes place in May

TYPICAL FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Speuta PAT - Also called “speutona”, it is a graing that corresponds to the triticum spelta, the major spelt used for the production of breads and soups by the Italic populations
Irpinia Colline dell’Ufita PDO - Extra virgin olive oil deriving largely from the Ravece variety, characterised by a pleasant bitter and spicy taste
Caciocavallo Silano PDO - Semi-hard cheese, with spun curd, produced with milk from different breeds of cows, including Podolica
Other products - Pecorino cheese and sheep meat from Laticauda

FUN FACTS

The territory is rich in healthy waters, so much so that Casalbore is called “Town of fifty springs”. This abundance of water, which in the past allowed the construction of several mills and which today makes the village a green garden, also sees the presence of a source of sulphurous water (Pietra Piccola locality) and a sulphurous-ferruginous-sodium spring (at the aquifer of the Miscano).
Casalbore borders three municipalities of the Sannio (Buonalbergo, Ginestra degli Schiavoni and San Giorgio La Molara), while the only neighbouring municipality in the province of Avellino is that of Montecalvo Irpino.

HISTORICAL NOTES

Thanks to archaeological finds unearthed in Casalbore, it is known that since ancient times this territory, crossed by the Regio Tratturo (old transhumance route) Pescasseroli-Candela, has been inhabited by different populations and that, in pre-Roman times, the town consisted of a scattering of farms.
In particular, among these finds, a necropolis of tumulus tombs is particularly relevant, whose construction can be dated between the second half of the 6th century BC and the first half of the following century.
In Roman times, however, Casalbore was part of the territory of Benevento and, even in this era, the settlement was scattered in its layout. The first mention of Casalbore dates back to 452. Subsequently, with the collapse of the Roman Empire, the village was merged with the Duchy of Benevento and later occupied by the Saracens, before being conquered by the Normans in 1042: the latter, in 1096, with the creation of the Kingdom, attributed Casalbore to the county of Ariano Irpino. Subsequently, it was involved in the wars between the Papacy and the Swabians for the control of Benevento. It ended up, therefore, in the hands first of the Sforza family, then of the Guevara family and, finally, of Alfonso of Aragon who, in 1497, ceded it to the Caracciolo family, feudal lords until 1806.