Melito Irpino

Melito Irpino (Irpino: Militë) is a town and comune in the province of Avellino, in the Campania region of south-western Italy.

Melito Irpino
Comune
Comune di Melito Irpino
Melito town hall
Melito Irpino within the Province of Avellino
Location of Melito Irpino
Melito Irpino
Location of Melito Irpino in Italy
Melito Irpino
Melito Irpino (Campania)
Coordinates: 41°6′15″N 15°3′12″E
CountryItaly
RegionCampania
ProvinceAvellino (AV)
FrazioniCozza, Fontana del Bosco, Incoronata
Area
 • Total20.68 km2 (7.98 sq mi)
Elevation461 m (1,512 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2017)[3]
 • Total1,927
 • Density93/km2 (240/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Melitese
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
83030
Dialing code0825
Patron saintSaint Giles
Saint day1 September
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The remains of the ancient Melito were found in 1880. According to some theories, it could be a suburban village belonging to Aeclanum, but the prevailing theory suggests that it was the ancient village of Melae (or Melas). In Ab Urbe Condita (book XXIV, chapter X), Titus Livius wrote that Melae was destroyed in 215 BC by the troops of Claudius Marcellus and Quintus Fabius, during the Second Punic War.[4]

Geography

The municipality is located in the northern area of its province, next to that of Benevento. Crossed by the river Ufita, it borders with Apice, Ariano Irpino, Bonito and Grottaminarda.[5] Its hamlets (frazioni) are the small villages of Cozza, Fontana del Bosco and Incoronata.

The town, included in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ariano Irpino-Lacedonia, is 5 km far from Grottaminarda, 9 from Ariano Irpino, 30 from Benevento and 48 from Avellino. Nearest motorway exit is located in Grottaminarda, on the A16 Naples-Bari.

Main sights
The medieval town
The castle
  • The medieval old town, damaged by the 1962 Irpinia earthquake and then abandoned.[4][6]
  • The medieval castle in the old town.[7]

People
  • Raffaele Minichiello (b. 1949), the first transatlantic hijacker
  • Tonino Sorrentino (b. 1985), footballer

References
  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Melito Irpino". Tuttitalia (in Italian).
  3. (in Italian) Source: Istat 2011
  4. History of Melito Irpino (municipal website)
  5. 41100 Melito Irpino on OpenStreetMap
  6. (in Italian) Melito Irpino on paesifantasma.it (Italian ghost towns website)
  7. (in Italian) The Castle of Melito Irpino on museodeicastelli.it


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