Identity: the capital of Irpinia between the Middle Ages, the Caracciolo and reconstruction
The municipality tells Avellino as a city that grew around a fortified core, with a Norman castle, a period of splendour under the Caracciolo, the Risorgimento and the rebuilding after the 1980 earthquake. The municipal site does not publish a page on neighbourhoods or the patron saint.
Sections: Geography · History · Population · Languages · Time zone · Public holidays
A history in five steps
According to the municipality's history page, the name Avellino appears in the early Middle Ages (8th century) and is thought to derive from Latin Abellinum; the arrival of the Normans in the 11th century brought the castle, which became the heart of the medieval city. In the 15th century the city passed to the Caracciolo and took on the look of a "principality". The 17th century brought the plague of 1656 and the earthquake of 1694; in 1861 Avellino became the capital of the province.
The 20th century
The municipality describes the 20th century as marked by wars, emigration and the 1980 earthquake, which devastated the city, the province and the historic heritage, followed by a reconstruction that made Avellino an administrative, commercial and university hub.
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Updated: 2026-10-20
Reviewed: 10/23/2026 · by piero.avolio · rev. 1 · Period: → 2027-10-31
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