The Municipality of Lauro rises in the Vallo di Lauro area. It's a town of 3,441 inhabitants, located 192 meters above sea level and 30 km from Avellino. The territory extends for 11.29 sq km and the adjoining municipalities are: Carbonara di Nola, Domicella, Moschiano, Pago del Vallo di Lauro, Palma Campania, Quindici, Sarno and Taurano
The etymology of the name seems to come from the Latin laurum which means "laurel", whose woods completely surrounded the town in Roman times. The inhabitants are called Lauretani. Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian are their patron saints. 
 

PLACES OF INTEREST

 

  • Lancellotti Castle - Ancient castle of Lombard-Norman origin, among the most beautiful ones of the province
  • Pignatelli Palace - Seat of the Museum of Umberto Nobile and of Italian airships, it rises in the square dedicated to the famous explorer
  • Del Cappellano Palace - Also called "Palazzo dei Tufi" (Tuff Palace), it's the most intact example of Renaissance architecture in Campania
  • Mastrodattia Palace - Today it's the Town Hall, in the past justice was administered there
  • Former Church of Jesus and Mary - Also called "Church of Rocchettine" and renovated many times, together with the adjoining Convent of the Santissima Trinità (Holy Trinity), it houses a precious canvas by Angelo Mozzillo
  • Church of Santa Maria della Pietà (Saint Mary of Mercy) - Dating back to the 12th century, it was destroyed many times: it preserves a cycle of frescoes commissioned in the 15th century 
  • Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maddalena (Saint Mary Magdalene) - Deconsecrated, it is currently used as a conference room and auditorium
  • Church of Santa Margherita e San Potito (Saint Margaret and Saint Potitus) - Reopened in 1992, here you can admire a painting illustrating Our Lady of the Assumption by Mozzillo and one of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, by Giuseppe Mazzia
  • Church of the SS. Rocco e Sebastiano (Saints Roch and Sebastian) - Also known as "Little Church of the vine", it's located in the ancient district of Lauro
  • Roman villa of San Giovanni del Palco - Imposing thermal complex dating back to the 1st century BC located on the border with Taurano 
  • Civic tower - With a quadrangular shape, it dates back to the 13th century
  • Via Terra - Ancient path that crosses part of the medieval village
  • Porta ad arco di Fellino (Arch of Fellino) - Dating back to the 17th century, it was renovated and equipped with a clock in 1789: made in white stone, it allows access to the historic centre of Lauro
  • Other churches - Church of Annunziata (Our Lady of Annunciation), Church of S. Maria Carmine (Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Church of the SS. Vito e Sisto (Saints Vitus and Sixtus)     


EVENTS

 

  • Lumina in Castro - Event that takes place at the end of August starting from 2006, with a guided visit to the rooms of the Lancellotti Castle by actors who stage a story of a specific historical period 
  • Saint Sebastian celebrations - Religious celebrations in honour of the patron saint
  • Biancovestiti - Event held on Good Friday, when every town of the Vallo di Lauro organizes a procession, dressing in white and singing songs of the Passion of Christ. They go to different towns and then they gather in the main square of Lauro, where there are hundreds of people waiting for them     


TYPICAL FOOD AND PRODUCTS

  • Noce malizia PAT - This nut is a typical local product of the Vallo di Lauro area
  • Casomuscio - Pecorino cheese, historical product of the pastoralism of the Vallo di Lauro, which owes its name to its characteristic softness that it retains for a long time before hardening
  • Olivella - Native vine of Campania, specifically in the area bordering the province of Avellino and the Vesuvian area, characterized by a grape that resembles the shape of an olive, hence the name 
  • Caciocavallo Silano PDO - Semi-hard cheese, with spun curd, produced with milk from different breeds of cows, including Podolica     


FUN FACTS

According to the legend, Lauro was founded by Hercules who, after having been in Pompeii and Herculaneum, arrived in this area, initially called Fraconia, where he was greeted by the people with laurel branches. For this reason, the name was transformed into Lauro
 

HISTORICAL NOTES

According to some testimonies, Lauro's origins date back to the Roman period and, thanks to its strategic position in Vallo, it was an important marquisal fief in the Middle Ages. 
Due to its position, Lauro was contended by various dynasties in Campania: it was, for example, dominated by the Principality of Benevento and then by the Principality of Salerno and Capua. Then it was conquered by Roger II of Sicily and became a countship, and after that it was donated to Roberto da San Severino around 1115.  
After several changes, in 1541 Lauro was sold for about 12,000 ducats to Scipione Pignatelli; in 1632 it was acquired by the Lancellotti marquises, who held it until the abolition of feudalism (1806) and, in 1799, it came out almost unscathed from the fire started by French troops.

 

 Lauro, with its magical castle and much more, is an enchantment for children and adults in a timeless story 
 
Distretto di riferimeno
Distretto:
DISTRETTO 2
Indirizzo
Location:
Piazza Umberto Nobile, Palazzo Pignatelli, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia
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Lauro

Piazza Umberto Nobile, Palazzo Pignatelli, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

Events

Featured places

Indirizzo Piazza Umberto Nobile, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

Piazza Umberto Nobile, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

Renaissance-era palace, home to the Umberto Nobile Museum

Indirizzo Via dei SS. Patroni, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

Via dei SS. Patroni, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

Known as the "Chiesetta della Vigna" (Little Vineyard Church), it is located in the ancient…

Indirizzo Via Casimiro Bonavita, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

Via Casimiro Bonavita, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

A palace of great simplicity, with a distinctive grey tuff façade

Indirizzo Piazza Municipio, 1, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

Piazza Municipio, 1, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

The name of this building, where justice was administered, comes from "maestri d'atti" (…

Indirizzo Piazza Umberto Nobile, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

Piazza Umberto Nobile, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

A small and simple church where religious rituals are celebrated but also concerts and shows…

Indirizzo Via Pietà, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

Via Pietà, 83023 Lauro AV, Italia

Dating back to the 12th century, it preserves a cycle of frescoes commissioned in the 15th…

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