In the province of Avellino, in Campania, there is a particularly characteristic village: Monteverde. It has a little more than 700 inhabitants and looks at everything from the top of a rocky spur of 700 meters. Below is the valley of the Campania Apennines, between the Osento stream and the Ofanto river. Inserted in the competition of the most beautiful villages in Italy, it was awarded in 2019 as the most accessible in our country.
Monteverde history
The name of the Monteverde village derives from Montis Viridis. The reference is to the vegetation that surrounds the area, or the Mezzana Forest. A territory that has recorded human presence since the Neolithic, occupied by the Samnites and the Irpines. Settlements destroyed by the Romans, who built a new castrum. The village developed under the Lombards, from the castle to the slopes of the hill. The first references to a Castrum Montis Viridis, as a military fortress, go back to a parchment of 897.
Around the year XNUMX it was conquered by the Normans and later passed from house to house, up to Orsini, Grimaldi, Caracciolo and Sangermano. These deserve to be mentioned because they transformed the castle from a fortress into a real noble residence.
Get inspired
The village of Monteverde develops around the castle, which boasts an irregular plan and four circular towers placed at the corners. It has undergone numerous transformations but presents itself to visitors as a typical structure of the Aragonese era. Today it houses the headquarters of MiGra, the Interactive Museum of Wheat and of women in peasant civilization.
Considering the small size of the village, it is surprising that there are a large number of religious buildings. Of particular importance is the former Cathedral of Santa Maria di Nazareth, originally of Santa Maria Maggiore. It dates back to 1300 and was rebuilt and rededicated in 1700. Also worth visiting is the small and ancient Church of Santa Maria di Nazareth, as well as that of Santa Maria del Carmine. Getting lost in the narrow streets of the village is a wonderful experience, perhaps indulging in some sin of gluttony, tasting the delicacies of the place.
What to see in the surroundings
Immersed in the nature of Avellino, there is so much to discover near Monteverde, starting with the Monticchio lakes. A lake basin located 17 km away, which is actually located in Basilicata. Here is one of the best known springs in Italy, which boasts therapeutic properties. Among the other villages to visit nearby there is the ghost of Aquilonia. It is 12 km away and has no citizens. The survivors of the devastating earthquake of 1930 in fact fled to the vicinity, where they founded a new town. You can admire today the old urban structure, with houses, church and other buildings.
Moving to Basilicata, as for the source we were talking about before, the village of Melfi, which is 22 km away, is also worth a visit. Its symbolic monument is the majestic castle, built by the Normans in the XNUMXth century.
Monteverde: what to eat
In Campania there is certainly no shortage of typical recipes. In Monteverde it is possible to delight in tasting the peasant focaccia, made from corn flour cooked on glowing embers. This replaces the bread and often enriches the boiled meat with field vegetables. Even the most elaborate dishes are of agro-pastoral origin, with only homemade pasta, from ravioli to orecchiette, from lasagna to cavatelli. All bathed in an Aglianico or a Sangiovese.
