Comune di Calitri

The first traces of human presence in the territory of Calitri date back to the Neolithic, to which belong some flint tools kept in the museum of Avellino [9]. Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79), listing the Irpinia populations, speaks of the Aletrini colony, confirming the presence of a community in the area where Calitri rises. However it becomes a real urban settlement only starting from the XIII century. [10] In the medieval period, Calitri is one of the many centers subjected to the Longobard administration first and then Norman and then Swabian. During the Norman domination, the fief of Calitri was entrusted to the Balvano family, while under the reign of Frederick II of Swabia it belonged to the royal domain. In 1304 Calitri passed to the Gesualdo, princes of Venosa who took possession of it for three centuries. With the Gesualdos, Calitri experienced its golden age and the ancient castle was transformed into a sumptuous noble residence. [10] After the Gesualdos, Calitri passed to the Ludovisi [10] who, in 1676, ceded it to the Mirelli family. [10] During the earthquake of 8 September 1694, the castle of Calitri was completely destroyed and Prince Mirelli died. The survivors of the Mirelli family opted for the abandonment of the ruins at the top of the hill, rebuilding the baronial palace further downstream. [10] In 1784 there was exposed, at the door of Nanno, the head of the brigand Angelo Duca, who had raged in the area with victorious clashes against the Bourbon army, executed in Salerno [11]. After the unification of Italy, the history of Calitri merges with that of many other centers in southern Italy: brigandage, emigration, baronial landlordism, struggles for the division of land. In 1861 it was conquered and freed by the men of the Lucanian brigand Carmine Crocco, together with Aquilonia, Conza della Campania and Sant'Andrea di Conza. [12] In June 1910 and in July 1930 some earthquakes of considerable magnitude struck Calitri [13]; in the First World War Calitri made a notable contribution to the cause in 1915 and in 1918, in 1924 they erected a Winged Victory that recalls the 120 victims of the conflict. [14] In February 1941 it was the scene of the Colossus operation. In 1943 the German troops arrived and destroyed many bridges including the one on the Ofanto. On 8 September, the day on which the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated (feast day for the calitrani), a radio announced that Italy had requested the armistice: the calitranos thought about the end of the war, but in Calitri he will, however, fight a battle against the retreating Germans. [14] On the morning of September 29th of the same year, rioters revolted and beat the then mayor Count Salvatore Zampaglione and the former podestà, sacked the same building and killed some members of the Ricciardi family. [15] After World War II there was the Christian Democrats at the top, including the calitrano Salvatore Scoca who was a minister several times; Calitri also suffered from the economic boom with a slight delay: in those years Calitri became the most important center of upper Irpinia thanks to the attracting power of its scholastic institutes (middle school, technical-commercial institute, art institute, scientific high school, professional institute) . [15] The 1980 earthquake caused two deaths and the unavailability of most of the historic center for many years.

Nice small country but very well kept organized and clean from which you can enjoy a beautiful view of the valley. ..people very friendly and helpful

Well restored structure, located at the top of the beautiful village of Calitri.