Petina
Welcome to Petina, a historic town surrounded by Campania's nature
Welcome to Petina! This small and charming town in Campania has less than 1000 inhabitants and is located in the province of Salerno, precisely at the foot of the Alburni mountains. Let's discover together its history, its monuments and its geographical peculiarities.
Physical geography
Petina is situated on a plateau on the eastern slopes of the Alburni mountains, along the provincial road that connects Sicignano degli Alburni with Polla. Its location surrounded by nature makes Petina an ideal place for hiking and mountain lovers. The seismic classification of Petina is zone 2, which means a moderate seismicity.
History
The roots of Petina date back to the Villanovan culture period, between the 9th and 8th centuries BC. In this period, the first settlements developed near Costa Castello, Ripa Alata, Ripa Longa and Massa. With the construction of the Via ab Regio ad Capuam in 132 BC, several Roman villas and a necropolis were built in the Massa area.
From the 8th century AD, Greek-Byzantine monks, known as Basilian monks, began to arrive. They built the complex of the Holy Spirit, the baptismal font inside the Lauro cave and the first phase of the current hermitage of Onofrio. Gradually, the Massa village transformed into the current inhabited center of Petina.
Around the 11th century AD, the fortress of the Lombard princes Principato di Salerno was built, located today in via Castello. Part of its walls are still present today.
From 1811 to 1860, Petina was part of the Postiglione district, belonging to the district of Campagna of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. From 1860 to 1927, during the Kingdom of Italy, Petina belonged to the Postiglione district, belonging to the Campagna district.
Monuments and places of interest
Hermitage of Sant'Onofrio
The hermitage of Sant'Onofrio is an ancient religious structure that stands on a rocky spur at 361 m above sea level and is composed of five main and three secondary structures. The bell tower has three orders with four archaic monophora openings, and the church, without windows, has a barrel vault with archaic arch. The complex of the Holy Spirit is instead formed by a monastery consisting of a set of cells carved out of caves, dating back to the 8th century AD.
To reach the complex of the Holy Spirit, we recommend the "Spirito-Santo" trail (858m), which winds downstream of the Municipality of Petina and connects the historic center with the Chapel of Santa Maria del Cedro.
Conclusions
Petina is a historic town surrounded by Campania's nature, which offers numerous attractions to visitors. Its millenary history and the beauty of its monuments make Petina a unique and unforgettable experience. Come and visit us and immerse yourself in the history and nature of Campania!
