The Municipality of Carife is located in the Baronia area. It's a village with 1,381 inhabitants, located 740 metres above sea level, at 60 km from Avellino. The territory extends for 16.72 sq km and the adjoining municipalities are: Castel Baronia, Frigento, Guardia Lombardi, San Nicola Baronia, Sturno, Trevico and Vallata.
The etymology of the name is uncertain and could come from Carifi, hamlet of Sanseverino, near Salerno. The inhabitants are called Carifani and Saint John the Baptist is their patron.
PLACES OF INTEREST
- Archaeological Museum of Carife - Territorial Museum, which displays finds from the Samnite (5th-4th century BC) and Roman times, inaugurated in 2019
- Archaeological Area of Carife - Site of the Samnite era located on the Campania Apennines, it is one of the most important archaeological areas of Irpinia
- Collegiate Church of San Giovanni Battista (Saint John the Baptist) - Destroyed by the earthquake of 1732, it was rebuilt in 1756 in the Vanvitelli style
- Church and Convent of San Francesco (Saint Francis) - Located in the “Fossi” district, it's certainly one of the most important and dearest places to the Carifa community
- Church of the Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows) - it preserves the handcrafted majolica with the image of Our Lady of Sorrows
- Palace of the Marquis - 10th century building, with rustic ashlar arched portal and large courtyard
- Sources - Watercourses in Bocche and Fiumara
EVENTS
- Tridd in Festa - Festival dedicated to typical fresh pasta, scheduled for the month of August
- Bonfires of Baronia - Event held in December with a walk among the olive trees, sensory paths and evening bonfires together with music and food and wine
- Feast of Saint John the Baptist - Event with a sacred and historical character, in honour of the patron saint, scheduled for the month of June
- Feast of Saint Roch - Celebrations in honour of Saint Rocco, scheduled for the month of August
- CarifOlio - Food and wine event collateral to "Bonfires of Barionia", scheduled for December
- Brancaterra on fire - Artistic event dedicated to local crafts, scheduled for May
TYPICAL FOOD AND PRODUCTS
- Triidd al sugo - Typical local dish, based on fresh pasta (similar to Triilli of Trevico) and ragù
- Irpinia Colline dell'Ufita PDO - Extra virgin olive oil deriving largely from the Ravece variety, characterized by a pleasant bitter and spicy taste
- Ufita garlic PAT - Product with an aromatic flavour and characterized by a high quantity of essential oils and active ingredients
- Ufita cherry tomato PAT - Of medium-small size, it has a bright red colour and numerous seeds inside
- Caciocavallo Silano PDO - Semi-hard cheese, with spun curd, produced with milk from different breeds of cows, including Podolica
FUN FACTS
There are numerous and lively legends around the "Pietra del Pesco": there are those who claim that the place is inhabited by devils, who even swear to have seen them running in and out of the numerous ravines of the limestone rock, while others have looked there for the rich and fabulous treasures hidden there by the brigands.
In the history of the Municipality, the drove roads play a key role: wide grassy, stony or beaten earth paths, with a natural background, originating from the passage and trampling of herds. With the passage of time these roads, from ancient transhumances, became the main roads of people.
HISTORICAL NOTES
Carife has very ancient origins starting from the third millennium BC, testified by many pre-Roman finds. The most documented human presence is, however, that of the Samnites who settled between the 5h and 4th centuries BC, before the advent of the Romans. With the fall of the Empire, the first invasions arrived, by Barbarians, Goths, Byzantines and Lombards.
Throughout its history, Carife has been ruled by several families: De Bruveriis, Del Balzo, Orsini, Consalvo, Como, Mirobello and, finally, Capobianco, the last lords of the town of Baronia, before the abolition of feudality in 1806.
In 1820, the Carifani took part in the revolutionary uprisings with the opening of the group called "Love of the Fatherland", led by the revolutionary Tommaso Santoro, who was then sentenced to life exile by the Grand Criminal Court of Avellino.
Carife with its ancient drove roads offers glimpses to discover the transversal beauty of its territory, a naturalistic and community experience not to be missed
Carife
Largo Mons. Vincenzo Salvatore, 1, 83040 Carife AV, Italia
Events
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A feast dedicated to the traditional first course: fresh hand-made pasta rolled out with three…
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The event is held in December with a walk among the olive trees, sensory trails and evening…
On Sunday 11 February the streets of the town will be animated, space for the proclamation and…
Featured places
Via Stefano Melina, 24, 83040, Carife AV, Italia
A territorial museum of burial artefacts from the Samnite period, the Carife Archaeological…
Via Addolorata, 83040 Carife AV, Italia
One of the most important archaeological areas in Irpinia, that of Carife contains the remains…
Piazza S. Giovanni, 83040, Carife AV, Italia
Destroyed by the devastating earthquake of 1732, it was rebuilt in 1754, with a project…
Via Elena, 13, 83040 Carife AV, Italia
Situated in the "Fossi" district, the complex is much loved by the people of Carife, whose…
Via Alessandro Manzoni, 83040 Carife AV, Italia
It preserves the handcrafted majolica with the image of Our Lady of Sorrows and gave its name…
Via Roma, 83040 Carife AV, Italia
The entrance portal, with the Capobianco family coat of arms, marks the entrance to a large…
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