Chiesa di San Vito di Vallata

The Church of San Vito (Saint Vitus) in Vallata stands on the street of the same name, on the outskirts of the historic centre of the town of Irpinia.

The origins of the religious building are uncertain but, following the latest restoration, carried out in the early 1990s, it is thought that the material previously used may date back to between the 13th and 15th centuries. The cult of Saint Vitus, which is widespread in the local community, is also reflected in a popular legend concerning the statue of the saint, which is kept inside the Church and never removed from its place: according to this belief, the saint could cause a storm of stones if the simulacrum was transported outside the religious building. For this reason, on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Anthony and Saint Vitus, a half-bust statue, kept in the Church of San Bartolomeo (Saint Bartholomew), is used for the procession.

The structure of the Church is simple and linear, with a quadrangular façade and a rectangular entrance, crowned by an arch with a narrow closure. The lateral, cube-shaped bell tower, covered by a pyramidal structure, houses the symbols used in classical iconography to identify Saint Vitus, namely dogs and cockerels. Inside the Church, you can admire the statue of the Saint, dressed as a noble patrician with Roman shoes and two dogs on a leash: it is located in the niche where the altar is also situated, with semi-arched marble columns that reveal the figure of an angel.

Faith, tradition, art and folklore come together in this precious place of worship, making the Church of San Vito highly venerated by the Vallata community.