Visit the Avellino Historic Centre

The historic centre of Avellino is the the heart of the city, rich in historic buildings, monuments, churches and big squares.

From the Avellino train station walk along via Tedesco and get to Corso Umberto I, the very heart of the historic centre. Walking around this area, you can see the Baroque-style Fontana di Bellerofonte (Bellerofonte Fountain), that local people call “fontana dei tre cannuoli” (three cannoli fountain) because of the three mouths pouring (drinkable) water, that dates back to the 1669.

In front of this historic fountain there is the Cattedrale di Avellino (Avellino’s Cathedral), that is the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta e San Modestino, a church with neoclassical facades on the outside and Baroque-style interiors on the inside, housing the Museo diocesano (Diocesan Museum).

Keep walking along Corso Umberto I and you will reach the Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower), the 17th century Baroque-style monument that is one of the symbols of Avellino, standing out against the historic centre and Piazza Amendola where the Museo del Palazzo della Dogana dei Grani (Wheat Customs Palace Museum) is, a museum that keeps the historical-artistic artifacts retrieved after the terrible earthquake that hit the Irpinia region in 1980.

In Piazza della Libertà there is Palazzo Caracciolo (Caracciolo Palace), a 18th century stately home that belonged to the Caracciolo family, the lords of Avellino.

Another must-visit place in the Avellino historic centre is the Museo Irpino (Irpinia Museum), a nine departments museum housed by both the Palazzo della Cultura (Culture Palace) in Corso Europa and the complesso monumentale del Carcere Borbonico (Bourbon Prison Monumental Complex), a former prison dating back to 1800.

The Palazzo della Cultura houses the departments dedicated to the remains of the ancient Irpinia, from prehistory to Roman period; whereas, the former Bourbon prison houses the departments dedicated to the Risorgimento period and science. There is no admission fee.

By car: to reach Avellino from the south, drive along the A3 SA-RC highway and take the exit signposted Avellino. If you come from the north, drive along the A1 highway up to Caserta, then drive along the A30 highway up to Nola and proceed along the A16 highway up to Avellino.

By train: you can reach the Avellino train station from both Napoli and Salerno, just take one of the many regional trains getting there.

By bus: if you are in Salerno, just take a SITA bus to Avellino.