Things to Do and See in Avellino

Avellino, the capital of the province of the same name, was ruled by the Spanish from the mid-1300s onward, particularly by the Caracciolo family, who transformed it into a center of culture and art. There are numerous monuments and buildings, starting with the city center, home to one of its most important structures, Palazzo Caracciolo, dating from the second half of the 18th century. Elevated to the status of a city symbol, the imposing Clock Tower is a Baroque structure located in Piazza Amendola, standing 40 meters tall—almost as if to attest that by the 17th century, the city had already attained a remarkable level of cultural and artistic achievement. Other tourist attractions include the Romanesque-style Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, dating from 1100, which houses the relics of Saint Modestino, the city’s patron saint; and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, adjacent to the Capuchin Monastery, both situated at the top of the hill. The Casino del Principe, a noble residence built in the late 16th century in the Renaissance style, now serves as an art gallery rich in works of art. Also worth visiting is the Irpino Museum, which houses and preserves numerous archaeological artifacts from Irpinia’s history spanning the prehistoric, Samnite, and Roman periods. Elsewhere in the province, notable sites include the Abbey Museum of the Montevergine Sanctuary in Mercogliano, featuring artifacts and works from the equally famous Montevergine Sanctuary; the Ceramics Museum in Calitri; and the Museum of St. Francis of the Friars Minor in Montella.