Scampitella

The Municipality of Scampitella is located within the area of the Baronia, bordering with Puglia. It's a town with 1,130 inhabitants, located 775 metres above sea level, at 70 km from Avellino. The territory extends for 15.11 sq km and the adjoining municipalities are: Anzano di Puglia, Bisaccia, Lacedonia, Sant’Agata di Puglia, Trevico, Vallata and Vallesaccarda.
The etymology of the name is indeed unknown, due to the lack of archival sources: according to an unconfirmed hypothesis, it could derive from the term “campitello”, understood as “small field”. The inhabitants are called Scampitellesi and Saint Michael the Archangel is their patron saint.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Migliano Caves - Archaeological site that was unearthed in 2002, together with the remains of a Roman villa: it consists of seven grain pits, called “brigands” and dates back to the period of Constantine the Great
Migliano Chapel - Built on a small hill, a short distance from the river, it is reduced to the state of ruins
Church of Santa Maria della Consolazione (Saint Mary of Consolation) - Entirely rebuilt after the earthquake of 1930, it preserves some important works of art, including a 19th-century wooden statue
Borgo Guardiola - Charming rural town, characterised by stone buildings
Archaeological remains - Finds dating back to different eras, most of which can be visited at the Town Hall

EVENTS

Scampitellese Carnival - Parade of masks and allegorical floats, takes place in the week of Shrove Tuesday
Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel - Religious celebrations in honour of the patron saint, held in May
Feast of Our Lady of Consolation - Religious event, held in August
Bonfire of Saint Joseph - Religious celebrations accompanied by the lighting of fires, held in March

TYPICAL FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Curniciedd cu e frecul - Typical dish, based on peppers seasoned with bread crumbs
Susamielli - Traditional semolina biscuits, often prepared with the addition of cooked wine and nuts
Crespelle - Typical Christmas dessert, fried in plenty of oil
Irpinia Colline dell’Ufita PDO - Extra virgin olive oil deriving largely from the Ravece variety, characterised by a pleasant bitter and spicy taste
Caciocavallo Silano PDO - Semi-hard cheese, with spun curd, produced with milk from different breeds of cows, including Podolica

FUN FACTS

Inside the new municipal headquarters, there is a permanent exhibition “Testimonies from the past: archaeology in Scampitella”, containing some archaeological finds unearthed in the municipal area.

HISTORICAL NOTES

In Scampitella, in the localities of Piano di Contra and Guardiola, numerous archaeological relics have been found, although the original settlement dates back to the Middle Ages, when the town played the role of farmhouse of the Barony of Vico, of which it followed the historical events.
During the Angevin domination, Scampitella was part of the possessions of the aristocrats Ada De Bruveriis and Marco Aiossa. Sacked by the Spanish troops of Captain Consalvo de Cordova in 1507, it was sold by their daughter to the Loffredo family, together with the Barony of Vico.
Scampitella was a hamlet until 1948, when it became an autonomous municipality, separating itself from Trevico.