Oliveto Citra
Oliveto Citra: a mountainous and hilly place
Oliveto Citra, also known as 'U Lëvìtë' in Campanian dialect, is a municipality located in the province of Salerno, in Campania. With a population of 3,624 inhabitants, the municipality is located in the high valley of the Sele river and its territory is largely mountainous and hilly, occupied by the southeastern foothills of the Picentini mountains.
Climate and geosites
The average temperature in January is +6.9°C, while in July it reaches +24.5°C. The climate of Oliveto Citra is classified as zone D, with 1,557 degree days.
The municipality is famous for the Mofeta di Oliveto Citra, one of the geosites present in Italy and due to the natural degassing of the soil.
An ancient history
Oliveto Citra has an ancient history dating back to the first settlements of the Oliveto-Cairano culture, as demonstrated by the presence of numerous tombs dating back to the 8th and 4th centuries BC.
The first identified settlement was located in the locality of Civita, but the inhabitants moved to the current site of the town. The first historical document mentioning its existence dates back to 1114 with the mention of the church of Santa Maria de Faris, and another document from 1300 in which Charles III asks for support from the feudal lord Johannucius de Oliveto for the war against the Aragonese.
The municipality has undergone numerous political and historical events related to the Principality of Salerno, the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. With the unification of Italy, Oliveto Citra became an autonomous municipality with the adjective "Citra" to distinguish it from other municipalities.
What to visit in Oliveto Citra
The municipality of Oliveto Citra boasts a very interesting historical and cultural heritage. Among the monuments and places of interest to visit are:
- Guerritore Castle, built between the 11th and 16th centuries
- Church of Santa Maria della Misericordia, with a sculpted doorway and three naves with a dome at the intersection of the transept, decorated inside with relief images of the Evangelists
- Church of Madonna delle Grazie, dating back to 1497
- Sanctuary of Madonna della Consolazione, built in the 17th century
- Bell tower and clock tower, dating back to the 12th century
- Naturalistic area "Piano di Canale"
- Lucanian Archaeological Museum of the Alta Valle del Sele
Society
The population of Oliveto Citra is increasing. In 2007, there were 54 foreign citizens residing in the municipality.
Conclusions
Oliveto Citra is a municipality that expresses ancient and historical beauty. Its mountainous and hilly territory, along with its monuments and places of interest, has always attracted Italian and foreign tourists. A visit to Oliveto Citra is an ideal choice to discover the Italian historical and cultural heritage and the charm of a unique landscape.
