Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino
Welcome to Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino: History and Physical Geography
Welcome to Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino, a city of 8841 inhabitants located in the province of Salerno, in Campania, Italy. The city is known as the "Gateway to the Amalfi Coast," as it is connected to the famous Amalfi Coast through the Chiunzi Pass. The territory of Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino partially falls within the Regional Park of the Lattari Mountains and the Nocerino-Sarnese agricultural area. The municipality is located on the slopes of the Lattari Mountains, near Monte Albino, on the northern bank of the Amalfi Coast hinterland.
Until 2008, the municipality was part of the Penisola Amalfitana Mountain Community and now falls under the Monti Lattari Mountain Community. In 2013, the municipality joined the Union of Municipalities Terre dell'Agro, together with the municipalities of San Marzano sul Sarno and Corbara.
The Ancient History of Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino
The history of Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino dates back to Roman times. The city hosts a rustic Roman villa from the 2nd century BC, which was later incorporated into the crypt of the abbey of Santa Maria Maddalena. A marble block with depictions of the god Sarno, used in the San Nicola fountain or Helvius source, dates back to the same period. The god appears in two different iconographic versions, as a mature or young man.
The fountain was fed by an aqueduct, dating back to the same period. The aqueduct consisted of a duct several hundred meters long, about 2 meters high and around 1 meter wide. It starts at a point placed about 20 meters below ground level and along its development is equipped with several ventilation wells.
The Medieval History of Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino
From the 8th century to the 11th century, the city was known as "Petruro". The area where the rustic villa was located became the site of a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Abbot Egidio. The monastery was first documented in a document from 1113, in which it passed into the ownership of the Abbey of San Trifone di Ravello.
In November 1042, an area between Sant'Egidio and the future Corbara called "gorga de lupenum" is mentioned: the current Vena del Lupo.
The settlement that developed around the monastery and the University of the Kingdom of Sant'Egidio were part of the hamlets of the "Nocera dei Pagani" department of the Civitas Nuceriae. The University of Sant'Egidio was made up of three hamlets: Sant'Egidio, San Lorenzo and Corbara.
The UNESCO Heritage of the City
In 1997, the city, along with the Amalfi Coast, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is known for its natural beauty, with the Lattari Mountains to the north and the Amalfi Coast to the south.
The city is a popular tourist attraction, thanks to its privileged location that offers a panoramic view of the coast and surrounding mountains. The Chiunzi Pass is a scenic road that connects Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino to the famous Amalfi Coast.
Conclusions
Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino is a fascinating city with a rich history of ancient and medieval events. The city is also an important tourist destination, thanks to its privileged location that offers a panoramic view of the coast and mountains. The city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 along with the Amalfi Coast. It is also an ideal starting point for visiting the Amalfi Coast, thanks to the scenic road of the Chiunzi Pass. If you are looking for a place to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Campania and the Amalfi Coast, Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino is the right place.
