Sperone

The Municipality of Sperone is located in the area of Lower Irpinia. It's a town with 3,773 inhabitants, located 175 metres above sea level, at 25 km from Avellino. The territory extends for 4.7 sq km and the adjoining municipalities are: Avella, Baiano, Pannarano, San Martino Valle Caudina, Sirignano, Summonte and Visciano.
The etymology of the name could derive from the location to the south of the Porta di Corte (Court Gate), with respect to Avella, since the term meant "foot", the most advanced point of the territory of Avella towards the plain. The inhabitants are called Speronesi and Saint Elijah the Prophet is their patron saint.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Church of Sant'Elia Profeta (Saint Elijah the Prophet) - Built towards the end of the 19th century, it is flanked by a Peasant Museum
Church of SS. Annunziata (Most Holy Annunciation) - Built in the 18th century and completely rebuilt after the 1980 earthquake
Fountain - Also known as Silva Paradina, from the name of the homonymous locality in which it is located: immersed in a splendid naturalistic setting, it is flanked by a chapel dedicated to Saint Mary of the Assumption into Heaven
Historic centre - It is characterized by its narrow alleys and the enchanting portals of the houses
Palaces - Borselli Palace, Caramiello Palace, Vetrani Palace

EVENTS

Feast of Saint Elijah the Prophet - Religious celebrations in honour of the patron saint, accompanied by the Processione dei Battenti (Procession of the Barefoot Confreres), scheduled for the month of July
Feast of the Majo - Traditional religious event held in February, in honour of the patron saint Saint Elijah

TYPICAL FOOD AND PRODUCTS

'A braciola co o' fierrofilato - Traditional meat dish cooked in tomato sauce, which is then used to dress pasta
Hazelnut - Avella/Irpinia hazelnut - nux avellana - with its strong historical, cultural and socio-economic link with the geographical area of origin, it represents a gastronomic excellence that has a rich assortment of varieties

FUN FACTS

The cult of Saint Elijah derives from a legend that involved the parish priest Giovanni Giacomo Galeota, during the plague of 1656: the Saint appeared to him in a dream saying these words: "Take care of my Church and I will implore the Lord to put an end to the plague". The next day, as if by a miracle, a girl recovered by anointing herself with the oil from the lamp.
The traditional Feast of the Majo foresees the cutting of the largest tree, located in the Sperone area, and the procession through the streets of the town, up to the elevation of the trunk in Piazzale Sant'Elia.

HISTORICAL NOTES

Originally, the territory of Sperone was part of the walls of ancient Abella, whose population, of Osco-Samnite origin, mixed with a small group belonging to the Ligurian ethnic-linguistic lineage, was deported to Lower Irpinia after the victory of the Romans over the Italic populations.
The barbarian invasions led to the destruction of Abella and part of the inhabitants settled further south, near the Porta di Corte and the area where, today, the Church of Sant'Elia stands, giving life to the current settlement of Sperone.
For centuries, the town was one of the four districts of the University of Avella, from which it separated only in 1836, the year in which Ferdinand III of Naples issued the royal decree by which Sperone became an autonomous municipality.