Irpinia is an area of the Apennine Mountains around Avellino, a town in South Italy, about 40 km east of Naples. “Irpinia” comes from the Oscan [1] word “hirpus” for wolf, Irpinia’s symbol to this day. The wolves are still present in the area in greatly reduced numbers.
Irpinia has a proud tradition of good food married with great wine. The culinary fare is simple and folkloristic: a plate of fresh pasta (fusilli, cavatelli, tagliolini, lagane, ravioli, or orecchiette) and a main course of meat (grilled chicken, lamb or rabbits seasoned with a selection of herbs) or a folk pizza (filled with chicory and ricotta cheese).
Typical Irpinia produce, many labeled PGI (or IGP) [2], include the copper-coloured urbunum onions of Montoro, porcini mushrooms, the black truffles of Bagnoli Irpino, the tasty Melannurca Campana or Campania Annurca apple considered the “queen of apples” for its many qualities, cherries, hazelnuts which make up one-third of the whole Italian production, and the chestnuts of Montella that are used by most of the famous confectionary industries in cream, marmalade and candied chestnut preparations.
Sheep, cow or goat milk cheeses are authentic specialties of the area. ‘Must tastes’ are the mozzarella, fresh and salted ricotta, scamorza, the straw-coloured caciocavallo podolico, the pecorino carmasciano (a sheep cheese which takes its name from the district at 1,000 metres altitude where it is produced), the caciocavallo irpino, and the cacio ricotta.
Ground meats, such as capicolli and subbursata and sopressata salami, are important local manufacture to the pork farms with their antique traditions that are also in line with the actual environment models. The local sausages, fresh or seasoned, like those from Avellino, are just as tasty with the extra dash of chilli pepper that invite you to pair them with the taste of a strong red wine.
Renown local wines of DOCG [3] quality are Taurasi with its complex character (considered by many to be the king of red wines), and Greco di Tufo and Fiano di Avellino, two special white wines with harmonic and balanced tastes.
Visitors to Irpinia will find many attractions to see and experience. The main tourist destinations include the Sanctuaries of Montevergine and of San Gerardo a Maiella, the early Christian Basilica in Prata, the ski resort of Laceno, the archeological sites of Avella and Eclano, the Roman ruins of Abellinum, the medieval town of Gesualdo, and the Lancellotti castle in Lauro.
Nature lovers will want to explore the natural beauty of the Regional Parks of Monti Picentini and Partenio, and the two World Wildlife Fund oases – Valle della Caccia in Senerchia and the area around the Ofanto dam in Conza della Campania.
[1] Oscan is an extinct language of southern Italy.
[2] Protected Geographical Indication covers agricultural products and foodstuffs closely linked to the geographical area. At least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation takes place in the area.
[3] ‘Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita’ is the highest classification for Italian wines. It denotes controlled production methods and guaranteed wine quality.
• Aiello del Sabato • Altavilla Irpina • Andretta • Aquilonia • Ariano Irpino • Atripalda • Avella • Avellino • Bagnoli Irpino • Baiano • Bisaccia • Bonito • Cairano • Calabritto • Calitri • Candida • Caposele • Capriglia Irpina • Carife • Casalbore • Cassano Irpino • Castel Baronia • Castelfranci • Castelvetere sul Calore • Cervinara • Cesinali • Chianche • Chiusano di S. Domenico • Contrada • Conza della Campania • Domicella • Flumeri • Fontanarosa • Forino • Frigento • Gesualdo • Greci • Grottaminarda • Grottolella • Guardia dei Lombardi • Lacedonia • Lapio • Lauro • Lioni • Luogosano • Manocalzati • Marzano di Nola • Melito Irpino • Mercogliano • Mirabella Eclano • Montaguto • Montecalvo Irpino • Montefalcione • Monteforte Irpino • Montefredane • Montefusco • Montella • Montemarano • Montemiletto • Monteverde • Montoro Inferiore • Montoro Superiore • Morra de Sanctis • Moschiano • Mugnano del Cardinale • Nusco • Ospedaletto d’Alpinolo • Pago del Vallo di Lauro • Parolise • Paternopoli • Petruro Irpino • Pietradefusi • Pietrastornina • Prata di Principato Ultra • Pratola Serra • Quadrelle • Quindici • Roccabascerana • Rocca S. Felice • Rotondi • S. Andrea di Conza • S. Angelo a Scala • S. Angelo all’Esca • S. Angelo dei Lombardi • S. Mango sul Calore • S. Martino Valle Caudina • S. Michele di Serino • S. Nicola Baronia • Santa Paolina • S. Potito Ultra • S. Sossio Baronia • S. Stefano del Sole • Salza Irpina • Santa Lucia di Serino • Savignano Irpino • Scampitella • Senerchia • Serino • Sirignano • Solofra • Sorbo Serpico • Sperone • Sturno • Summonte • Taurano • Taurasi • Teora • Torella dei Lombardi • Torre le Nocelle • Torrioni • Trevico • Tufo • Vallata • Vallesaccarda • Venticano • Villamaina • Villanova del Battista • Volturara Irpina • Zungoli •