Airola
Encyclopedia
Airola is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Benevento
in the Italian
region Campania
, located about 35 km northeast of Naples
and about 20 km southwest of Benevento
in the Valle Caudina, facing the Monte Taburno. Nearby is the confluence of the Tesa and Faenza streams into the Isclero
River. Airola's territory is also crossed by the Acquedotto Carolino, carrying waters to the Caserta Palace
.
, it was sold to the Carafa
family, and was later given to Alfonso d'Avalos
who, in turn, sold it to Ferrante Caracciolo in 1575.
Until 1816 it was included in the Principato Ultra of Avellino
, and then was part of the Terra di Lavoro
until the unification of Italy (1861), when it was annexed to the province of Benevento.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Benevento
Province of Benevento
The Province of Benevento is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Benevento.It has an area of 2,071 km², and a total population of 289,455...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, located about 35 km northeast of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and about 20 km southwest of Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
in the Valle Caudina, facing the Monte Taburno. Nearby is the confluence of the Tesa and Faenza streams into the Isclero
Isclero
The Isclero is a stream in Campania, southern Italy. Its sources is formed by confluence of the Varco, Cola and Querci torrents; it then flows in the Valle Caudina, where it receives the waters of the Tesa and Faenza, and then continues running in the Moiano ravine and, subsequently, in the...
River. Airola's territory is also crossed by the Acquedotto Carolino, carrying waters to the Caserta Palace
Caserta Palace
The Royal Palace of Caserta is a former royal residence in Caserta, southern Italy, constructed for the Bourbon kings of Naples. It was the largest palace and one of the largest buildings erected in Europe during the 18th century...
.
History
Airola is mentioned for the first time in 997. Later it was a fief of Rainulf III of Alife, of Martin Toccabove and the Cortillon family. In 1460, after the siege of Ferdinand I of NaplesFerdinand I of Aragon
Ferdinand I called of Antequera and also the Just or the Honest) was king of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica and king of Sicily, duke of Athens and Neopatria, and count of Barcelona, Roussillon and Cerdanya...
, it was sold to the Carafa
Carafa
Carafa is the name of a noble Neapolitan family of Italian nobles, clergy, and men of arts.* Cardinal Oliviero Carafa, , uncle of Paul IV...
family, and was later given to Alfonso d'Avalos
Alfonso d'Avalos
Alfonso d'Avalos d'Aquino, 4th Marchese di Pescara e del Vasto was a condottiero of Spanish-Italian origin.He was born in Ischia, the nephew of Francesco Ferdinando I d´Ávalos, inheriting his uncle titles after 1525, fighting the French and the Venetians by his side...
who, in turn, sold it to Ferrante Caracciolo in 1575.
Until 1816 it was included in the Principato Ultra of Avellino
Avellino
Avellino is a town and comune, capital of the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is situated in a plain surrounded by mountains 42 km north-east of Naples and is an important hub on the road from Salerno to Benevento.-History:Before the Roman conquest, the...
, and then was part of the Terra di Lavoro
Terra di Lavoro
Terra di Lavoro is the name of a historical region of southern Italy. It corresponds roughy to the modern southern Lazio and northern Campania regions of Italy....
until the unification of Italy (1861), when it was annexed to the province of Benevento.
Main sights
- Church of the Annunziata (14th-15th centuries), with an Annunciation altarpiece. The bell tower is from 1735. The 18th century façade was designed by Luigi VanvitelliLuigi VanvitelliLuigi Vanvitelli was an Italian engineer and architect. The most prominent 18th-century architect of Italy, he practiced a sober classicizing academic Late Baroque style that made an easy transition to Neoclassicism.-Biography:Vanvitelli was born at Naples, the son of a Dutch painter of land and...
. - Lombard castle
- Church of San Gabriele at Monte Oliveto
- Church of Santa Maria dell'Addolorata (14th century, restored in the 18th century)
- Church of San Michele (16th century)
- Palazzo Montevergine, built in 1606 by the Benedictines of MontevergineMonteverginethumb|250px|The Sanctuary of Montevergine.The Montevergine, also known as Partenio or Monti di Avella, is a limestone massif in Campania, central Italy, part of the Apennine chain. It is located near Avellino, in the comune of Mercogliano...
. - 17th century churches of San Donato and San Carlo