アヴェリーノの洞窟・トップ20

The Castle of Monteforte was probably an ancient Roman castrum, on which a real castle was probably built by the Lombards in the 7th-8th century. But the history of Monteforte is very ancient: traces of its existence can be found already during the Second Punic War (fought between Rome and Carthage from 218 BC to 202 BC), when Annibale Barca passed through it on his way back from Capua towards Cannae, where he prepared the historic trap against the Romans. The first certain information we have about the village is contained in a document from 1102 preserved in the Montevergine Archives. In the Angevin period, it passed to the Princes of Montfort and Count Guido de Monfort lived there, who killed Prince Henry of England in 1271 in the cathedral of Viterbo. Having committed the crime, he was deprived of his possessions which passed to the Orsini family, whose lineage they remained in until 1806. The Castle was renovated and transformed into a summer residence by Charles of Anjou who lived there several times from 1271 to 1280. It was abandoned to itself from the 16th century; legend has it that who knows what treasures were buried in it, unfortunately this gave greedy hands the opportunity to complete its destruction.

Remains of the feudal castle of Serino, complete with boundary walls and access arch. Very suggestive place!

On the top of a hill full of vegetation, in the locality of Toppola, are the ruins of the Feudal Castle of Serino which, together with the Castle of Orano, constitutes the group of fortifications present in the territory of the municipality. Of the original structure, only the perimeter walls and the ancient chapel, now restored, are visible. According to some sources, the castle was built around 839 AD, as a defensive bulwark for the local inhabitants threatened by the raids of the militias engaged in the dynastic struggles for the succession to the throne of Benevento. However, the current conformation of the castle should date back to 1159, the year in which Costanza Saracena, belonging to the Sanseverino family, elected Serino as the capital of her feud. The structure is accessed through two suggestive arched doors that mark the passage along the three short ramps that once led to the main entrance. After the last door, you come across the Sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie which today includes the private chapel with a bell tower, once located near the residence of the feudal lord. With the loss of its defensive function, the castle suffered the neglect of time and was gradually abandoned. The ruins of the building, with the adjoining restored church, are now well kept, inserted within a highly suggestive natural setting, in which the centuries-old linden tree in front of the church makes a fine show.

The Feudal Castle is located on top of the Serino hill. It is inserted in a wooded environment, very luxuriant. Unfortunately a large part of the fortress is in a state of abandonment.

This castle was built by the Lombards and the Normans between the eighth and ninth centuries, although the first written texts attesting to its existence date back to the thirteenth century. Located on top of Monte Croce, it dominates the whole valley.

Ruins of the Castle of the hamlet of Mercogliano "Capocastello"

The Ruins of the Castle of Senerchia are located on the street of the same name, near the Borgo Antico. The first documents attesting the history of the Senerchie fortress date back to 1230, when the owner of the stronghold was a certain Giovanna. It is very probable that the already pre-existing fortress was built and enlarged between the 8th and 9th century AD by the Lombards and the Normans, who succeeded one another in dominating the feud. Built on the highest part of the town, overlooking Monte Croce over the surrounding Sele Valley, the Castle was typically medieval and therefore equipped with external walls, a keep and a residential building. info: https://sistemairpinia.provincia.avellino.it/it/luoghi/ruderi-del-castello-di-senerchia The last stretch, even if very short, is demanding, sturdy shoes are suggested.-

The Borgo Antico of Senerchia, also known as the "Ghost Village", is what remains of the ancient inhabited center of the Irpinian town, located near the Ruins of the Castle. Dating back to the Middle Ages, the village was founded between the 8th and 9th centuries, developing near the fortress built by the Longobards, of which only some portions of the boundary walls and the cylindrical tower remain today, at a height of 600 metres, overhanging the valley below, to then extend downwards, where the new urban center currently stands. Life and time, in this small historical fragment, stopped at 19:34 of that tragic November 23, 1980, the date of the devastating seismic event that severely injured Senerchia as well, tearing it apart with deep evident signs, still today, in the cracks of the old inhabited and well impressed in the memories of those who lived through those tragic moments. Info: https://sistemairpinia.provincia.avellino.it/it/luoghi/borgo-antico-di-senerchia Trekking shoes are recommended.