Castello del Lago
Castello del Lago: a cozy and welcoming hamlet
Castello del Lago is a small and cozy hamlet located in the province of Avellino, part of the municipality of Venticano. The hamlet is nestled in a hilly area, characterized by geologically unstable terrain due to the fragility of the land, and until the last decade of the 1900s, it was heavily exploited for tobacco production.
A history rich in traditions
Castello del Lago has a history rich in traditions linked to the surrounding territory. During the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the area was part of the province of Principato Ultra with the capital first in Montefuscolo, then in Avellino. Already part of the fiefdom of the princes of Sirignano and to a small extent, of the Spinelli di Napoli, it was broken up into small land holdings so that it could be easily purchased by the farmers of the time. The land reform was mostly implemented with the advent of the Republic, and the Parliament of the Italian Republic passed a law to that effect in 1950.
Emigration, an important reality for the hamlet
As in much of southern Italy, in the early years of the 20th century, the majority of incomes were remittances sent by men who emigrated to America to their wives and families back home. The weight of emigration to the Americas was significant in the 19th and 20th centuries, mostly towards New York and Boston, and to a lesser extent towards South America. Even today, emigration represents an important reality for the hamlet, given the lack of real economic activities and the alternative to unemployment and precariousness.
The physical geography of the hamlet
Castello del Lago is located in a hilly area, with geologically unstable terrain due to the fragility of the land. Until the last decade of the 1900s, the hamlet was heavily exploited for tobacco production. With the uneconomical nature of tobacco cultivation following the end of European Union subsidies, many lands have remained uncultivated, and some have been requalified to produce vegetables, Ravece olive oil, and Aglianico wine grapes. The proximity to the highway exit and the junction of the 9 motorway link road stifles any possible development of the hamlet and represents a source of atmospheric and acoustic pollution.
Venticano, the new municipality
Before 1948, Castello del Lago was part of the municipality of Pietradefusi. With Legislative Decree no. 665 of 21 April 1948, the final separation from Pietradefusi and the establishment of a new municipality, Venticano, was sanctioned. The new municipality included the territories of the hamlets of Campanarello, Castello del Lago, Calore (Venticano), Colonna San Martino, Colonna San Giovanni, and San Nicola.
In conclusion, Castello del Lago is a rural hamlet, close to the surrounding territory and characterized by a particular history and traditions. Despite the lack of economic activities, the beauty of the hilly area makes it ideal for those looking for a peaceful place to recharge and enjoy nature.
