Sorgenti di Cassano Irpino

The Cassano Irpino Springs represent a heritage of considerable natural interest.

The group of springs in the territory of Cassano Irpino is fed by the vast hydro-geological basin of the Picentini Mountains, which includes the sources Pollentina, Peschiera, Acqua del Prete and Bagno della Regina. The waters of Cassano Irpino supply water not only to the inhabitants of the 118 municipalities in the province of Avellino but also to the populations of Puglia and Basilicata, as well as to six towns in the province of Campobasso.

To capture and protect the water, in the 1960s the Apulian Aqueduct Authority and Alto Calore built a system capable of conveying about 1,800 litres of water per second in the Galleria del Valico: a 17 km long tunnel that connects to the Apulian Aqueduct in Caposele. In order to preserve the purity of the water, a number of covers were built, including a dome-shaped one at the Pollentina Spring, which makes the internal landscape very impressive. The spectator is also struck by the vision of the water collected under the dome, which, pure and rich in oxygen, causes numerous bubbles to form on the surface. 

The construction of these important hydraulic works has contributed to reinforcing the value and importance of the Cassano Irpino Springs not only for the local population but for the whole of Irpinia and much of Southern Italy.