Gesualdo is an Italian town in the
province of Avellino
The province of Avellino () is a province in the Campania
Campania is an administrative Regions of Italy, region of Italy located in Southern Italy; most of it is in the south-western portion of the Italian Peninsula (with the Tyrrhenian Sea ...
, itself in the
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
of
Campania
Campania is an administrative Regions of Italy, region of Italy located in Southern Italy; most of it is in the south-western portion of the Italian Peninsula (with the Tyrrhenian Sea to its west), but it also includes the small Phlegraean Islan ...
. It is called ''"The city of the Prince of Musicians"'' in honour of
Carlo Gesualdo
Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa (between 8 March 1566 and 30 March 1566 – 8 September 1613) was an Italian nobleman and composer. Though both the Prince of Venosa and Count of Conza, he is better known for writing madrigals and pieces of sacred ...
. It has many palaces, fountains, belvederes, and a historical center, which was partially restored after the
Irpinia earthquake in 1980.
The town is located in the center of
Irpinia
Irpinia ( Modern Latin ''Hirpinia'') is a geographical and cultural region of Southern Italy. It was the inland territory of the ancient '' Hirpini'' tribe, and its extent matches approximately today's province of Avellino.
Geography
The territ ...
, between the valleys of the rivers Fredane and
Ufita
The Ufita is a river of Campania, in southern Italy. The source is in the Baronia traditional sub-region of Irpinia, in the province of Avellino, after which the river flows generally north-westwards, entering the province of Benevento before ent ...
. It is about from Naples and from Rome. Surrounding municipalities are
Fontanarosa
Fontanarosa is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Avellino, Campania, southern Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Penins ...
,
Frigento
Frigento is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Avellino, Campania, Italy. It is located in the Ansanto valley and bordered by the municipalities of Carife, Flumeri, Gesualdo, Grottaminarda, Guardia Lombardi, Rocca San Felice, Sturno, and ...
,
Grottaminarda
Grottaminarda (Irpino: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Avellino (Campania), situated northeast of Naples, in the southwest of Italy.
Grottaminarda is part of Roman Catholic Diocese of Ariano Irpino-Lacedonia and its territory bor ...
,
Paternopoli
Paternopoli is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Avellino, Campania, southern Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsu ...
,
Villamaina
Villamaina is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Avellino, Campania, southern Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsul ...
. It is one of
I Borghi più belli d'Italia
() is a non-profit private association of small Italian towns of strong historical and artistic interest, that was founded in March 2001 on the initiative of the Tourism Council of the National Association of Italian Municipalities, with the a ...
("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
Castle
The first records of the Castle of Gesualdo date to Norman rule in the 12th century.
The castle was severely damaged in the 1980 Irpinia earthquake. Restoration work has not been completed yet, but the castle has been partially open to the public since 2015.
Main sights
* Castle of Gesualdo, founded by Lombards in the 7th century, enlarged in the 15th. It was transformed by Carlo Gesualdo in the 16th and by the Cacceses in the 19th.
* Chiesa Madre di San Nicola (Saint Nicholas Mother Church, 12th century)
* Chiesa del Santissimo Sacramento (Blessed Sacrament Church) (Great Chapel).
* Chiesa del Santissimo Rosario (Most Holy Rosary Church, 17th century)
* Chiesa di Maria Santissima Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 17th century)
*
Capuchin convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, founded in the 16th century and enlarged in the 17th
* Church of Santa Maria della Pietà (17th century)
Culture
Events in the village include:
* Carnevale Gesualdino (Gesualdo Carnival), a parade of paperboard wagons and masked groups, held in the Carnival period
* Volo dell'Angelo (Flight of the Angel), the secular tradition that sees a child, dressed as an angel, tied to a rope, acrossing a square at a height of more than ; last Sunday of August.
References
External links
*
Gesualdo e Carlo GesualdoA living document in the interior Campania, Italy: the Castle of Gesualdo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gesualdo
Hilltowns in Campania
Borghi più belli d'Italia