Sant'Angelo a Scala

The Municipality of Sant’Angelo a Scala is located in the area of the Partenio Park. It's a village with 741 inhabitants, located 582 metres above sea level, at 10 km from Avellino. The territory extends for 10.75 sq km and the adjoining municipalities are: Altavilla Irpina, Capriglia Irpina, Grottolella, Pietrastornina and Summonte.
The etymology of the name refers, in the first part, to the cult for the patron saint, while the specific “a Scala” could derive from the conformation of the mountains surrounding the town, or from a small road, steep as a staircase, which, in the past, connected the village to an ancient church located further upstream. The inhabitants are called Santangiolesi and Saint Michael the Archangel is their patron.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Church of San Giacomo Apostolo (Saint James the Apostle) - Built in the 14th century, it played a monastic role until the 17th century: it is still distinguished today by the façade and the bell tower on the left side of the building
Sanctuary of San Silvestro Papa (Saint Sylvester Pope) - Small church perched on a rocky spire, on the slopes of Mount Vallatrone: it is flanked by a cave with water having therapeutic properties
Carafa Palace - Majestic residence of the Lords of Sant’Angelo a Scala
Castle Area - Site on which the medieval castle once stood, located in a position overlooking the valley below
Camaldolese Hermitage of the Incoronata (Our Lady Crowned) - Convent dating back to the 16th century, of which some ruins remain today
Early Christian Caves - Located in Malfedana, they testify to the presence of civilisations in the late Roman period
Nature trails - Paths that lead to the main attractions of the town, including the various caves in the Partenio Regional Park
Springs - Streams that run through the municipal territory: Santuario San Silvestro Spring, Incoronata Spring, Fontanella Spring, San Giacomo Spring

EVENTS

Fire of the Bell Tower - Fireworks show, held in August
Pope Art Festival - Theatrical and musical festival that combines fun, civic sense and religious devotion
Run through the nature of Partenio Park - Trail-running race, takes place in the summer
Torchlight procession of Saint Sylvester Pope - Religious event, scheduled for August
Procession of Saint Michael the Archangel - Celebrations in honour of the patron saint, takes place on the second Sunday of August

TYPICAL FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Honey - An integral part of the culture and history of the local populations. It's produced in the Partenio area in different types: Asphodel Honey, Borage Honey, Thistle Honey and Bramble Honey, all recognized as PAT
Black Truffle of the Partenio - Precious product in which the scents of the woods are found
Fiano di Avellino DOCG - One of the finest white wines of Italy and the international market
Chestnuts - Very characteristic production of the mountains surrounding the village
Hazelnut - Strong presence of the cultivation of hazelnuts, existing in Campania already in Roman times
Caciocavallo Silano PDO - Semi-hard cheese, with spun curd, produced with milk from different breeds of cows, including Podolica

FUN FACTS

According to some sources, in 1476, Pope Paul IV, born Gian Pietro Carafa (1476-1559), was born inside Carafa Palace, located right in the territory of Sant’Angelo.
Sant’Angelo a Scala has been awarded the title of “Town of the Two Popes”: in addition to the figure of the pontiff with origins in the town, in fact, there is a devotion to Saint Sylvester Pope (285-335), still well rooted today.
The village is known for being the birthplace of Pietro Auletta (1698-1771), a well-known Italian composer.

HISTORICAL NOTES

The first settlements in the territory of Sant’Angelo a Scala are to be found in the ancient late-Roman city of Ascula and in the Church of San Michele of Lombard origin, now replaced by the Sanctuary of San Silvestro Papa.
The history of the village is inextricably linked to the Carafa family and to the figure of Pope Paul IV, who built a monastery dedicated to Our Lady Crowned in Sant’Angelo a Scala.
The religious cult, which has always been deeply rooted in the community of Sant’Angelo, suffered a hard blow at the beginning of the 19th century, when the Monastery of the Incoronata was destroyed and reduced to ruins for having hosted the Bourbon colonel Michele Pezza, better known as Fra Diavolo, captured by the Bonapartist troops of Joseph Léopold Sigisbert Hugo, father of the famous French writer Victor Hugo (1802-1885).