Domicella

The Municipality of Domicella is located within the area of the Vallo di Lauro. It's a town with 1,850 inhabitants, located 200 metres above sea level, at 26 km from Avellino. The territory extends for 6.40 sq km and the adjoining municipalities are: Carbonara di Nola, Lauro, Liveri, Marzano di Nola, Pago del Vallo di Lauro and Palma Campania.
The etymology of the name seems to come from the Latin domus-cella, that is, “storage house”, “granary” (also in the meaning of “dwelling of slaves dedicated to agriculture”), or according to others, from domus Coeli or “Villa dei Coelia”, an aristocratic family of Roman landowners, whose presence is attested in the Imperial age in Pompeii and Nola. The inhabitants are called Domicellesi and Saint Filippo Neri is their patron saint.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Ruins of the Abbey of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Holy Mary of Graces) - With an 18th-century layout, it preserves the perimeter walls and a beautiful stone portal
Church of the Madonna del Carmine (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) - Church dating back to the 15th century, it is located in the hamlet of Casamanza
Church of San Gregorio Magno (Saint Gregory the Great) - Church dating back to the 18th century, it is located in the hamlet of Casola
Church of San Nicola di Bari (Saint Nicholas of Bari) - Dating back to the 16th century, houses works by the maestro Felice Bossone
Istituto del Sacro Cuore (Institute of the Sacred Heart) - Of the 17th century, it is located in the hamlet of Casamanza
Lupi Palace- Historic building of the 17th century

EVENTS

Feast of Saint Philip Neri - Celebrations in honour of the patron saint that take place on 26 May
Feast of Saint Gregory the Great - It takes place on 12 March
Dried fruit Festival - Food and wine event that takes place on the first weekend of September

TYPICAL FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Hazelnut - The hazelnut Avellana/Irpina − nux avellana − with its strong historical, cultural and socio-economic link with the geographical area of origin, represents a gastronomic excellence that has a rich assortment of varieties: Mortarella and San Giovanni, with elongated fruit (more than two thirds of the production)
Other products - Dried fruit, chestnut, oil

FUN FACTS

Domicella became part of the province of Avellino from 1861, with the Unification of Italy: previously, it was included in the Terra di Lavoro, with Caserta as the provincial capital.

HISTORICAL NOTES

The territory of Domicella has been frequented, as evidenced by some findings, especially since the late-Republican age, when mainly agricultural settlements were first established.
The first mention of the village in the Middle Ages was in a notarial deed of 979, in which we learn that the Lombard prince Pandolfo donated to Martino, abbot of Santa Maria di Spelonca, all the holdings falling within the modern-day territory of Domicella. A document of the year 982 mentions Pietro, Giovanni and other inhabitants of the farmhouse who made arrangements on a land “posito in Domucella ubi furche vocatur”.
Another act of donation of the year 1037 speaks of a “Caputo de loco Democella, finibus Lauri”, which granted the Church of Santa Maria di Spelonca part of its properties in the Scoropeta district.