Montefredane

The Municipality of Montefedane is located within the area of the Sabato Valley. It's a town with 2,239 inhabitants, located 593 metres above sea level, at 10 km from Avellino. The territory extends for 9.45 sq km and the adjoining municipalities are: Avellino, Grottolella, Manocalzati, Prata di Principato Ultra and Pratola Serra. The Sabato river runs through it as well as the Fontanelle, Pisciricolo and Fontana Springs.
The etymology of the name is a compound of the noun “monte” and the anthroponym “Fredane” or “Fridane”, probably of Germanic origin. The inhabitants are called Montefredanesi and Saint Nicholas is their patron saint.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Caracciolo Castle - Located in a strategic position overlooking the entire Sabato Valley, it offers a spectacular panoramic view: it dates back to the 10th century and its ruins testify to its ancient splendour
Church of Santa Maria del Carmine (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) - 18th-century building with a high bell tower, preserves works of sacred art, including statues of saints, a high altar in marble and a pipe organ
Baronial Palace - Renaissance structure with façade probably of the 18th century, of great architectural and historical interest, with its large portal, windows, cornice and the impluvium of the inner courtyard
Cappella della Pietà - Small church, inside which there is a fresco from 1764 depicting the Deposition of Christ
Other - Church of the Congrega del Sacro Cuore (Congregation of the Sacred Heart), Church of Santa Lucia Virgine e Martire (Saint Lucy Virgin and Martyr), Council Hall “Giuseppe Pisano”, Municipal Park

EVENTS

Fusillo and Pezzente Festival - Food and wine event that takes place in summer and includes music and stands of different typical local products, starting from fresh handmade pasta and featuring “pezzente”, a typical sausage of the local area
Fredane in Borgo - Festival of street artists with food and wine stands, typical local products and music that takes place in summer in the heart of the historic centre
The most beautiful Nativity scene - Exhibition-competition with subsequent award ceremony, dedicated to the art of the Nativity, which takes place in December together with the concert of the Farnetum polyphonic choir

TYPICAL FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Fiano di Avellino DOCG - One of the finest white wines of Italy and the international market
Pezzente - It is a particular lung sausage, very tasty, made with finely spiced and smoked meat
Mortarella Hazelnut - Hazelnut typical of the territory with the production of the Mortarella with elongated fruit
Honey - Acacia honey, Chestnut honey, Millefiori (Wildflower) honey

FUN FACTS

For many years Montefredane, a village of ancient agricultural traditions, has preserved a famous production of dairy products and genuine cheeses, with dairies built near the hamlet of Arcella, along the Via Appia. Today, it is particularly renowned for the production of Fiano di Avellino DOCG, made by various local wineries.

HISTORICAL NOTES

The first settlements in Montefredane date back to the Samnite era. With the advent of the Romans, in correspondence with the hamlet of Arcella, further residential nuclei developed. But the real foundation of the main town, which stands at the summit of the town, should date back to the 6th century AD, with the arrival of the inhabitants of what was then Abellinum, fleeing after the destruction of the Roman colony.
In the 12th century, Montefredane was mentioned in the Catalogus Baronum (1150-1168) as belonging to the county of Avellino. In the following centuries, its vicissitudes were linked to the names of several noble families, such as Capece, Brancaccio and Orsini. The Irpinian town acquired increasing importance, until the plague of 1656, which greatly reduced its development.
Between 1650 and 1806 the territory was owned by the aristocratic Caracciolo family, who brought it to new splendour with the construction of the Castle bearing their name.