Tufo

The Municipality of Tufo is located in the area of the Sabato Valley. It's a village with 844 inhabitants, located 250 metres above sea level, at 20 km from Avellino. The territory extends for 5.96 sq km and the adjoining municipalities are: Altavilla Irpina, Petruro Irpino, Prata di Principato Ultra, Santa Paolina and Torrioni. The Sabato river runs through it.
The etymology of the name seems to come from the first feudal lord, Raone Del Tufo, or more simply from the volcanic rock of the tuff, widely present in the subsoil of the whole area of the town. The inhabitants are called Tufesi and Saint Michael the Archangel is their patron saint.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Castle - It stands at the highest point of the town and it's known as a Lombard castle, although, most likely, it was the Normans who gave it a more stable shape: it changed its use in the 17th century, becoming a palace-residence
Saint Michael’s Cave - More than 50 meters deep, it's a place of history and faith: dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, it has been included in the Sacred Paths of the Jubilee
Former Sulphur Mines - Discovered in 1866 by Francesco Di Marzo, they have been an opportunity for the town's great economic development, until their definitive closure in the 1990s.
Giardino Mill - Interesting example of industrial archaeology, dating back to 1866 and once used for the milling and ventilation of sulphur
Di Marzo Palace - Imposing noble building, located at the entrance to the old town and dating back to the 19th century
Other - Chapel of Sant'Antonio (Saint Anthony), Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Saint Mary of the Assumption), Monument to the Miner

EVENTS

Tufo Greco Festival - Event that usually takes place in the first week of September, with tastings, food, music, wine tours and an absolute protagonist: the Greco di Tufo DOCG wine
Saint Michael's Feast - Celebrations in honour of the patron saint which take place on the 8th of May very year
Saint Lucy's Bonfire - Traditional event characterized by the lighting of bonfires in December

TYPICAL FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Greco di Tufo DOCG - Noble wine deriving from an ancient vine, of Greek origin, with unparalleled typicality, affirmed all over the world for its aromas and flavour
Scarole imbottite - Typical Irpinian dish with capers, pine nuts and raisins which, in the boiled vegetables, create a dish with a rich and captivating flavour
Menesta maritata - Typical Irpinian dish, whose name derives from the fact that the meat and vegetable ingredients that compose it are put together, "married"

FUN FACTS

Tufo is part of the Greco di Tufo DOCG area, a white wine that has always been associated with the Irpinian municipality in its denomination.
According to a legend, in 1866 Mr Francesco Di Marzo saw two young shepherds setting fire to a stone. The unusual fact distracted him from his pleasant walk and he was struck by the sight and smell of that strange phenomenon. Thus, the Sulphur Mine was discovered, one of the largest industrial centres in the South, between Tufo and Altavilla, where about 1,300 miners worked.

HISTORICAL NOTES

The first settlements in the current territory of Tufo date back to ancient times: the most direct evidence is, in fact, the discovery of a Samnite-Roman aqueduct tunnel, during the works for the construction of the bridge that, today, connects the Irpinian village to Prata di Principato Ultra.
Its history is closely linked to that of the nearby Torrioni: in 888, in fact, the prince of Benevento Aiulf II decided to build, in the current Torrione area, a turreted fortress to defend the Tufo castle. Initially, it was owned by the Del Tufo family, which took its name, in fact, from the fiefdom it administered for a few centuries. Subsequently, it was controlled by other feudal lords, including the Piatti di Monteleone princes.
In the summer of 1861, the revolt against The Savoy extended from Montefalcione to Tufo and the neighbouring borders, leading to the indictment of 31 Tufo citizens, most of whom suffered a prison sentence.