Santa Paolina
Welcome to Santa Paolina
Santa Paolina is a charming Italian commune located in the province of Avellino, in the Campania region. With a population of 1162 inhabitants, it is part of the Partenio-Vallo di Lauro mountain community. In this article, we will discover a bit of history and curiosities surrounding the village of Santa Paolina.
History
The earliest traces of human presence in this area date back to the Neolithic age. In fact, recent archaeological discoveries have revealed the presence of a pre-Roman Irpinia civilization that permanently lived in the valley at the foot of Mount San Felice. This settlement produced decorated ceramics and other utensils of various kinds.
During the Middle Ages, the Santa Paolina area was dedicated to agriculture. In this period, the Lombard abbey of Santa Sofia called it the "promised land," located at the base of a forest, near a spring, and everything was under the direct dependence of the abbey. The area could be identified through a church dedicated to San Felice. Moreover, since 1083, we have the first trace of the Santa Paolina toponym.
Contrade of Santa Paolina
In recent history, the municipal territory was divided into several contrade, each with its own history and characteristics. For example, there was La Piazza, the court of Brecciale and via Ferrere, the fortress of Petrarola, Piazza and via San Rocco "Pino," Capi Jorii, Giallonati, Marotta, "Cierro," San Bernardino, La Sala, Profiche, Casale Santa Lucia, Piana de' Sauri, Casale Castelmozzo, Paoloni, Piezzo, Picoli, the court of Ponte Zeza (Manganelli), Taverna della Figura, Serra (Tufini), Gnerri, and Viturano.
Symbols of Santa Paolina
The coat of arms and the banner of the municipality of Santa Paolina were granted by the President of the Republic's decree on August 5th, 2013. The coat of arms consists of a heart-shaped shield, with a black and white field divided by the symbol of Mount Partenio with P (acronym of Partenio) followed by the number 1108 (the mountain's height). On the sides of the shield, there are two oak branches. The banner, instead, is formed by a straw-yellow flag with the municipality coat of arms in the center.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the municipality of Santa Paolina is a place rich in history and traditions. Its ancient pre-Roman population, and its medieval heritage make this commune a very interesting place. The numerous contrade, with their unique features, contribute to creating a landscape of great beauty and charm. And let's not forget the coat of arms and the banner, which represent its pride and history. We invite you to visit Santa Paolina and discover for yourself all that it has to offer.
