What to see in Calitri
Calitrian ceramics, how it started
In Calitri, artisans, as a social class, were highly esteemed and respected; they were often literate and frequently the only bulwark of resistance against the powerful. Among the artisans, the ceramists stood out for their reputation and professionalism. They were called "faenzari", since they were originally from the city of Faenza. They all lived by in isolation on the same street, named "Faenzari Street". Their families were kept busy in the manufacture and decoration of house wares. Since the ceramists' pay wasn't always sufficient, their wives often had to work in the fields to supplement the family income. Along with the ceramics trade, the art of embroidery was also well established. The latter craft was widespread, even though it lacked distinctive local features. Today visitors to Calitri can spend a day in the workshop of a local ceramics artisan and discover the delights of traditional Irpinian ceramics and experience a unique opportunity to spend a day in the workshop of Vito Zabatto, a renown local sculptor, who will teach you the antique art of Italian Pompeii-style sculpting, where vases and statues are fashioned out of strips of clay.
Laghi di Monticchio
Monticchio is a stunning location in the heart of the Mount Vulture region. It is situated on the crater of an extinct volcano, and is made up of two emerald-green lakes surrounded by a dense forest of chestnut and beech trees. This wood was a favourite haunt of highway men in the years following the unification of Italy in 1860. The remains of the ancient Abbey of Sant'Ippolito (Abbazia di Sant'Ippolito) are located near the Great Lake (Lago Grande), while the Abbey of San Michele (Abbazia di San Michele) overlooks the Little Lake (Lago Piccolo), dominating the surroundings and reflecting off its waters. It is partially carved out of an enormous rock that used to be the living space of a Brazilian hermit. The lakes and the nearby woods have numerous trails to offer both the serious hiker and the casual stroller. There are various restaurants nearby specializing in local delicacies and wine. 20 kilometres from Calitri, 25 minutes' drive.
Amalfitan Coast
Visitors to Calitri can easily access the beautiful coastline south of Naples famous around the world for its stunning promontories, inviting beaches and luxurious architecture and hotels. The stunning islands of Capri and Ischia are reachable by hydrofoil.
99 kilometres from Calitri, 83 minutes' drive.
Aquilonia
Two of the main characteristics of this quaint Irpinian village are silence and tranquillity, making it perfect for those seeking relaxation and harmony with nature. For those who enjoy fishing, the artificial lake of San Pietro (Lago di San Pietro) has a lot to offer. The Etnographic Museum of Rural Civilization (Museo Etnografico della Civilta' Contadina) offers insights into the local traditions and customs. The ruins of the ancient village of Aquilonia can be found nearby, inside the Archaeological Park of Aquilonia (Parco Archeologico). 18 kilometres from Calitri, 22 minutes' drive.
Bisaccia
Bisaccia lies on an extension of Mount Calvario, which is 800 meters above sea level. It has panoramic views of the enchanting landscapes below. It's renowned in the area for being windy, to the point that locals have taken advantage of this natural characteristic and built wind-power plants to supply their electricity needs. Of historic interest is the Ducal Castle (Castello Ducale), which is flanked by a large, square tower. The castle and its beautiful cloister paved with slabs of local stone have remained almost intact over the course of the centuries and are important landmarks in the area. Another must for visitors is the Iron Age Necropolis (la Necropoli dell'Eta' del Ferro) and the Princess' Tomb (Tomba della Principessa). 17 kilometres from Calitri, 21 minutes' drive.
Cairano
This tiny village of about 800 inhabitants is perched on top of a steep slope that ends on a hill. Cairano is the favourite meeting place of hang-gliders from all the region, particularly attracted by stunning views of the valley below, the dike of Conza and the town's high location. The narrow alleys weave up and down the little village, and around the distinctive local door portals that are engraved in stone. Dominating the village are the ruins of the Cairano Castle (Castello di Cairano). 11 kilometres from Calitri, 13 minutes' drive.
Conza della Campania
During the middle ages, Conza was the most important town of Southern Italy. It was abandoned by town-folk who relocated to the valley below when it became the biggest local casualty of the 1980s earthquake. The older town's melancholic beauty and the complete absence of sounds and noise there is striking, serving as a testament to the power of nature and the challenges its forces pose mankind. Built on top of the ancient Roman village of Compsa, it dominates the surrounding countryside and has a beautiful view of the wide wheat fields and the valleys below. Nearby, a dike built to control the waters of the Ofanto River has become an important attraction for wildlife and endangered birds. The visitor can also enjoy the treasures of the Archaeological Park (Parco Archeologico) where the remains of Conza Castle (Castello di Conza) are situated and where the restored Cathedral (Cattedrale di Conza) holds the sarcophagus of St. Erberto, patron saint of Conza. 14 kilometres from Calitri, 16 minutes' drive.
Gargano Coast
Going East from Calitri you will reach the marvellous, rugged northern coastline of the Puglia region, the Gargano. Here stone watchtowers from the middle ages dot the coastline and olive trees follow the slopes of the hills straight down to the beach. Marvellous for those looking for a stunning location still undiscovered by the masses, yet with many small secluded hotels offering charming local hospitality. 132 kilometres from Calitri, 93 minutes' drive.
Lagopesole
This small village lies on the slope of a hill on top of which Emperor Fredrick II built the Castle of Lagopesole (Castello di Lagopesole) in defence of the town and the surrounding lands. It is said the spirit of his unlucky wife Elena, who loved the castle immensely and was separated from her husband and from the building during social disruptions of the time, still wanders around the castle on serene summer nights. 45 kilometres from Calitri, 52 minutes' drive.
Melfi
This town was the region's capital during the reign of the Normans. Melfi is well known for its castle, famous for the two Papal councils that took place within its solid, secretive walls. It now houses an archaeological museum. Walking into downtown Melfi is a voyage in time, catapulting the visitor into the dark ages. The Cathedral and its tower are a prime example of local architecture. The Tuppu dei Sassi archaeological site is worth visiting. 34 kilometres from Calitri, 41 minutes' drive.
Convento di San FrancescoMontella
St. Francis' Convent (Convento di San Francesco) and the remains of the Montella Castle (Castello di Montella) are renowned for their beauty and their archaeological importance. 20 kilometres from Calitri, 25 minutes' drive. 47 kilometres from Calitri, 46 minutes' drive.
Nusco
Piano Laceno Skiing Resort
Rocca San Felice
A medieval village 750 meters above sea level famous in ancient times for the nearby Arsanto Valley (Valle D'Arsanto), which was considered sacred during the dark ages and as a result attracted many a pilgrim. A recent discovery of archaeological ruins has attracted even more attention to the town lake, which was an element of interest in itself with its waters bubbling from the carbon dioxide and sulphuric acid exhaled by the waterbed. Above Rocca San Felice stands the imposing cylindrical tower of its castle, a prime spot from which to view the surrounding countryside. The little small stone Rocca San Felice houses all appear to lean against each other, as if seeking support. An interesting feature of this quaint village are the straw ovens that are still used to bake and heat. There is a restaurant-museum (Ristorante-Museo) in the historical centre, where visitors will be entertained with storytelling of local customs and traditions and nourished with the town's typical cuisine. The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore (Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore) and the Church of Santa Felice (Chiesa di Santa Felice) are worth seeing. 36 kilometres from Calitri, 47 minutes' drive.
Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi
Historians and architects consider the historic centre of this small village to be a jewel and the Cathedral and the Febbronia Tower (Torre di Febbronia) heighten its beauty.
The Abbey of San Guglielmo of Goleto (Abbazia di San Guglielmo di Goleto) is situated on top of a hill not far from Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi. This monastery has attracted many pilgrims over the years, and today is an ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. Inside its thick, stone walls is St. Luke's Chapel (Capella di San Luca), with its important frescos, and the Greek Crossed Church (La Chiesa a Croce Greca). Also to be found inside the walls are a few small houses from the middle ages built by pilgrims whose religious convictions drew them near to St. Guglielmo's abode for protection. The Tower of the Abess' Defense (Torre di Difesa della Abbessa) can be admired through an inward door. The silence and the peace that pervades the monastery creates a mystical and unreal atmosphere. 31 kilometres from Calitri, 34 minutes' drive.
Thermal Baths of St. Theodore in Villamaina
A favourite of locals seeking relaxation and rejuvenation, these baths were cited by Virgil in the Latin poet's masterpiece Eneide, written before the birth of Christ. In the 1700s Duke Caracciolo embellished the Antiche Terme di San Teodoro by placing huge marble baths within the natural depressions formed over the centuries by the weight of the waters to offer better hospitality to those wanting to enjoy the soothing natural liquids. Today the waters still reach temperatures of 28 degrees centigrade, allowing vacationers to relax and benefit from their curative powers. They are particularly recommended for those with arthritis and dermatological and vascular ailments. Visitors can stay at the small 32-room hotel adjacent to the baths. www.termedivillamaina.it. 49 kilometres from Calitri/50-minutes' drive.
Torella dei LombardiTorella dei Lombardi
What used to be a bustling, lively agriculture centre in medieval times today offers peace, hospitality, and untouched nature. It is immersed in the woods that have embraced the town for many hundred years. The castle that used to belong to local nobility has been restored and is now in use by the town council, and there's a museum (Museo Civico) that's rich in archaeological treasures. Well worth seeing are the Chapel of Sant'Eustacchio (Capella di Sant'Eustacchio), the town garden with the two antique towers and a portal from the 1500s. 40 kilometres from Calitri, 44 minutes' drive.
Venosa
Venosa, home of the renowned Roman poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus, backdates as one of the first human settlements of the Basilicata region. It was the main ancient Roman settlement in the area, and became an Episcopal see during the Christian era. The ruins of the Roman thermal baths and of the amphitheatre are unique example of their kind, as are the Jewish catacombs that are carved into the solid volcanic rock. The town's history and tradition are put on show at the Del Balzo Castle (Castello Del Blazo), which has been transformed into a museum. Other important landmarks include the Abbey of the Trinity (Abbazia della Trinita') and the Unfinished Church (L'Incompiuta), which Benedictine monks started to build but never completed. 55 kilometres from Calitri, 62 minutes' drive.
The castle of Calitri
therefore like represented in the recording of the Pacichelli published in the volume "the Reign of Naples in perspective" in 1702, was an imposing construction with four large towers angle irons, contrafforti and other works of fortification, with the disposed main access on the depositor south-east of one of the hills that dominate go them to them of the Ofanto and the Cortino. All the facade north, articulated in two massive curtains emergent building, was constructed on the costone to sandstone peak stratified of beyond seventy meters of height. A detailed description of the fortified building is contained in the "Conzana Reporter" of D. Castellano, than it visited it in 1691. These, in fact, speak about "a most famous castle loaded with rooms approximately to 300 rooms, than you they can comfortably be five courts of Getlteman, very fortified of two bridges to levatoio with beautifulst bastions, attended said castle it is placed over a mount, and guarnito of all comforts ET high earth is all morata and has four doors, than it becomes sure much". In the same period the Chianelli, person in charge from the feudatari of the Mirelli family to write up a estimativa relation, describes it to the structures "like beautiful machine of factory" estimating of the consisting damages as a result of the earthquakes of 1688 and 1692. The existence of the castle is documented in XIII the century. It turns out indeed from the "Statuta officiorum" of the reign svevo publishes you from the Winckelmann that, in 1240, it, pertaining to the imperial Federal property, was subordinate to participations of repair and adaptation of the defensive structures in the within of the Frederic the Great program of improvement of the fortified building in southern Italy. At the moment of the occupation angioina the "Castrum Calitri" was one of approximately forty existing fit for use castles in the giustizierato one of the "Principato and Terra Beneventana". It was assigned from Carl d' Angiò to the baron of Fleury in 1276. It belonged to Of the Leap and, in 1304, it came acquired from the Gesualdo that of it stopped the possession for beyond three centuries and they widened it with consisting and repeated participations of restructure. It remained property of this family until 1629, year of the dead women of the last Isabella descendant. The Gesualdo always dwelled in the castle that in that period was widened and transformed in sontuosa residence. In XVII the century it passed to i Ludovisi that in 1676 will sell it, with to the feudi of Calitri, Castiglione and S. Maria in Elce, to the Mirelli family that remained some owner until 1806. In the sequence of earthquakes happened between the XVI and XVII century the castle of Calitri received huge damages. They collapsed numerous atmospheres for the violent earthquake of 1561, that it had for epicenter Goes it of Give and produced serious damages to all the inhabited center. Subsequently it was repaired from the feudatario of the time, Luigi IV Gesualdo, in order to continue to being used like palace for the residence of its family. It completely was destroyed the most violent earthquake of the 8 september 1694 that damaged all the inhabited center and the surrounding countries, provoking approximately the 300 hurt very many victims and. Just as a result of such disaster, the feudatari survivors of the Mirelli family opted for the abandonment of the ruderi in top to the hill, reconstructing the baronial palace more to go them, in pressed of the church the mother and the Monastero of the Benedictine nuns. The area of the castle divenne, from XVIII the century in then, object of large city transformations that modified, irrimediabilmente, the ancient structure. Enormous damages to the residual structures of the ancient fortified building were had also as a result of the earthquakes of 1910 and 1980. From winter 1988-1989 it is in course, to cure of the Soprintendenza for the B.A.A.A.S. of Salerno and Avellino, in the higher part of the historical center of Calitri, an participation of restoration of the building manufatti ones, the existing city structures and the adjacent tower to the door of "come Nanno" to the light after the earthquake of 1980. Today a part of the Village Castle, that it accommodates the museum of the "Ceramics", and the tower of "Nanno" has been restored.
