Castel Baronia
Castel Baronia: a journey through history and its monuments
Castel Baronia is a small Campanian town with just over 1000 inhabitants located in the province of Avellino. Its history dates back to the domination of the Two Sicilies and its past as the capital of the district of Ariano.
After the Unification of Italy, Castel Baronia maintained its role as a district within the district of Ariano in Puglia, extending its jurisdiction to six municipalities and two villages that corresponded to a large part of the Baronia.
But what makes Castel Baronia such an interesting place to visit?
Monuments and places of interest
The Castle of the Baronia is certainly the symbol of the town. Dating back to 1130, it was initially owned by Traiano Carafa, Marquis of Lajno, but was later sold to Domenico Nicola Mancini, 1st Marquis of Fusignano and member of the illustrious Roman family who transformed it into a palace, where the distinguished jurist, Count Pasquale Stanislao Mancini was born.
But that's not all: Castel Baronia can also boast the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Fratte, whose foundation dates back to 1137 and was completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1930. The current church was rebuilt in Gothic style and is 26 meters long and 12 meters wide, with a single nave and two side chapels. On the entrance portal is located the organ with wooden choir, while the main altar in polychrome marble baroque style dates back to 1700.
But if you travel to Castel Baronia, you cannot miss the Chapel of the Madonna Addolorata, built around 1711 on a hill that dominates the town and restored in 1934. Inside is the painting of the Madonna dell'Addolorata or dei Sette Dolori, restored in the 1980s by Father Andrea Martini. The feast is celebrated on September 15th with a procession and a torchlight procession.
Society
Another aspect to consider when visiting a town is its culture and social fabric. Castel Baronia has an interesting demographic evolution, but what makes it unique is its Irpino dialect. There is a particular variety of the dialect that is often referred to as "ciaschino", with a tricky and cryptic lexical component of which there are still some legacies in the local speech.
On the religious side, the municipality belongs to the diocese of Ariano Irpino-Lacedonia.
Anthropic Geography
The town of Castel Baronia is divided into numerous hamlets such as San Marco, Toppole San Martino, Piani, Acquachiusa, Sterparo, and Uliveto. Each of them offers different features for those who want to discover the town and immerse themselves in its daily life.
Administration
Castel Baronia is part of the Ufita Mountain Community and takes advantage of the administrative organization and services offered by it.
In summary, Castel Baronia offers those who visit it a true immersion in local history and culture, among ancient monuments, the beauty of dialect, and the relaxed atmosphere of its hamlets. An ideal destination for those who want to discover the soul of the south in the enchanting Campanian region.
