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Volturara Irpina (Irpino: Otrale) is a town and comune in the province of Avellino, Campania, Italy. It is located in the Monti Picentini area, at the foot of the Terminio.
Volturara Irpina | |
|---|---|
| Comune di Volturara Irpina | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Volturara Irpina  | |
  Volturara Irpina Location of Volturara Irpina in Italy  Volturara Irpina Volturara Irpina (Campania) | |
| Coordinates: 40°53′N 14°55′E / 40.883°N 14.917°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Campania |
| Province | Avellino (AV) |
| Frazioni | Tavernole |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Marino Sarno |
| Area | |
• Total | 32.42 km2 (12.52 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 620 m (2,030 ft) |
| Population (31 December 2017)[2] | |
• Total | 3,207 |
| • Density | 99/km2 (260/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Volturaresi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 83050 |
| Dialing code | 0825 |
| Patron saint | St. Nicholas of Bari |
| Saint day | 6 December |
| Website | Official website |
History
editThe existence of the first settlements in Volturara Irpina dates back to Roman times: it is assumed that, following the destruction of the legendary Sabatia, guilty of having given its support to Hannibal during the second Punic war against Rome, part of its population moved between the Upper Sabato Valley and the area of the Picentini Mountains, creating numerous settlements, including the original one of Volturara.
This hypothesis seems to be supported by the fact that, throughout the municipal territory, some tombstones have been found, of which, today, no trace remains, but whose content was wisely described by the priest Pasquale Di Meo, grandson of the great historian of the Kingdom of Naples Alessandro (1726-1786).[3]
The medieval Norman Castle was built during the Swabian-Norman domination. The ruling dynasty of Aragon transformed the Castle into a noble residence. The hamlet was first recorded in 976 and its name was "Volturaria".
The Castle was the property of several lords in its history, among them Guglielmo de Tivilla who sent troops in the Holy Land during the crusades. Volturara Castle passed to the ownership of Nicola della Marra in 1303 remained in the ownership of the della Marra family until the 16th century. Today the Castle has four quadrangular angle-Towers that are no more than twelve m. high and has also a wide courtyard.[4]
Urban Legend
editLegend has it that, in the area where the Piana del Dragone stands today, a prince named Gesio managed to kill a three-headed dragon with his sword. Once it lost the duel, the monster sank into the bowels of the earth, creating three holes dug by its three heads, giving rise to the natural sinkhole, called Dragon’s Mouth and still visible today. [5]
Economy
editEconomy is based on the production of chestnuts and the famous Volturara Irpina Quarantino beans. Known as the Quarantino due to the length of time it takes to mature—quaranta (40) days—the Volturara Irpina bean is small, irregular and has a thin, ash-white skin.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ All demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat); Dati - Popolazione residente all'1/5/2009
- ^ "Volturara Irpina Historical Notes". Sistema Irpinia.
- ^ "Norman Castle in Volturara Irpina". Castelli D'Irpinia.
- ^ "Volturara Irpina". Sistema Irpinia.
- ^ "Slow Food: Volturara Irpina". Fondazione Slow Food.
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