Castelvetere sul Calore

The Municipality of Castelvetere sul Calore is located in the Valle del Calore area. It's a village of 1,589 inhabitants, located 750 meters above sea level and 26 km from Avellino. The territory extends for 17.17 sq km and the adjoining municipalities are: Chiusano di San Domenico, Montemarano, Paternopoli, San Mango sul Calore and Volturara Irpina. It stands on the slopes of Mount Tuoro and is crossed by the river Calore.
The etymology of the name is to be found in two Latin terms: the first part derives from Castellum, diminutive of Castrum, which means "fortress", while vetere derives from vetus, which means "ancient". The specification "sul Calore", on the other hand, refers to the river crossing the town. The inhabitants of this town are called Castelveteresi and their patron is Our Lady of Grace.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Albergo Diffuso Borgo di Castelvetere hotel - Seventeen accommodations, a characteristic restaurant, a conference room and much more, in one of the most beautiful and characteristic historic centres of Irpinia
Carnival museum - Located at the entrance to the historic centre, it tells the story of the carnival of Castelvetere
Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Our Lady of Graces) - Among the most visited places of worship in the town, it houses a triptych from the 15th century
Church of San Lorenzo (Saint Lawrence) - Known for immersing the faithful who visit it during the patronal feast dedicated to Our Lady of Grace in the scent of blessed bread
La Ripa - This is the name of the historic centre, arose from the remains of the medieval castle. It's very characteristic, thanks to the small alleys and ancient buildings with exposed stone
Mother church of Santa Maria Assunta (Our Lady of the Assumption) - Located in the highest part of La Ripa, it stands out on the roofs of the houses with its 18th century bell tower
Hermitage of San Michele all'Elce - 14th-century church dedicated to the cult of the Archangel Michael
Fontana dello zoppo - fountain built in local stone at the beginning of the twentieth century, it was once a public wash house for the town
Naturalistic path - CAI Path n.144, located in the Picentini Mountains Regional Park
Other - Scala Santa Chapel (Holy Stairs), Church of Santa Maria del Carmine (Our Lady Mount Carmel), Oratory of Madonna del Carmelo (Our Lady Mount Carmel), Bimonte Palace, De Beaumont Palace, Nargi Palace, Palermo Palace, Saggese Palace, Sullo Palace

EVENTS

Carnival of Castelvetere - Parade of allegorical floats in papier-mâché, with music and choreographed and themed dances, at its 50th edition in 2020
Feast of Our Lady of Graces - it's celebrated on the 28th of April, when the little girls of the town dispense blessed bread to all the houses in the village, dressed in clothes covered with gold lent by the inhabitants as a sign of devotion
Feast of Lo Ucciolo - Summer food and wine event, characterized by the enhancement of one of the typical local products, similar to saltimbocca
Maccaronara Festival - Another summer food and wine event, dedicated to a typical local pasta
Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua - Religious event that takes place every 9th and 10th of August
Feast of Saint Anthony - Traditional feast of many towns of Irpinia that precedes the Carnival with bonfires and gastronomic tablefuls

TYPICAL FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Maccaronara, Cecaluccoli, Cavatielli, Orecchie 'e prieuti - Homemade pasta of ancient tradition dressed with meat sauce
A ‘Menesta ‘Mmaritata - A vegetable soup, also typical of the area with wild herbs (borage, nettle, chicory, chard, cabbage, etc.) and boiled meat
Pizza chiena - Rustic savoury pie, typical of the Easter period, with a dough similar to that of bread that contains a filling of eggs, pepper, fresh cheese and sliced salami
Taurasi DOCG  - Wine of great tradition, made thanks to a very ancient grape variety: well structured, elegant and austere but, at the same time, balanced and tannic; suitable for a very long ageing, also thanks to its structure, minerality, good alcohol content and fullness
Coda di Volpe Rossa Grape PAT - Grapes rich in bloom and with a thick dark red skin, this variety can be used as a table grape, or for the production of the homonymous wine
Caciocavallo Silano PDO - Semi-hard cheese, with spun curd, produced with milk from different breeds of cows, including Podolica

FUN FACTS

Castelvetere sul Calore was one of the precursors for the construction of cemeteries outside the city centre, long before the imposition of the Edict of Saint Cloud; the inscription still visible today at the entrance to the cemetery chapel testifies to this.
Archery is a sport that is widely practised in this town, and numerous titles have been won both nationally and internationally by the Arcieri del Vecchio Castello sports association.

HISTORICAL NOTES

The origins of Castelvetere sul Calore are little known. Probably, the foundation of the town dates back to the first barbarian invasions but, according to some findings of ruins on the mountain, this land had already been a protagonist in Roman times. In fact, Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus, among his many military campaigns, conquered Mount Civitella. The area, which corresponds to this mountain, was called Cisauna at that time, and was strategic from a military point of view due to its altitude.
The first written evidence of the territory, however, dates back to 991, when Sico of Benevento, Count of Conza, donated his fief and the assets he owned, to the Monastery of San Benedetto in Salerno. However, the Lombards built the castle around which the town came to life, and which was called "Castle of Saint Mary", following the apparition of Our Lady of the Assumption.
After a short period of dependence on the Abbey of Montevergine, several families took turns at the helm of Castelvetere: the last feudal lords were the De Beaumont, before the abolition of feudalism in 1806.