Villamaina
Villamaina: a place rich in history and natural beauty
Villamaina is a small municipality in the province of Avellino in Campania. With its 908 inhabitants, this place is located on a hill at an altitude of about 500/550 meters. Despite being in a seismic area and having suffered a severe earthquake in 1980, it was rebuilt and has maintained its original charm.
Natural beauties and San Teodoro Thermal Baths
One of the major points of interest in the area is the presence of the San Teodoro Thermal Baths, which attract many tourists every year. Villamaina itself has a unique natural beauty thanks to the presence of the Ansanto Valley, a mythological archaeological area sung in the Aeneid by Publius Vergilius Maro. It's worth a visit.
The history of Villamaina
Villamaina is a place rich in history. Its slightly secluded location, but still easily reachable thanks to the proximity to the ancient Appian Way, has made this area the subject of numerous historical events.
The territory of Villamaina was under the government of the Caracciolo family in the fifteenth century, while in the sixteenth century the count of Conza, Luigi Gesualdo, appointed Annibale Caracciolo as the owner of Villamaina. Thanks to him, the village became a sort of fortified citadel. The Caracciolo family were first barons, then became dukes of San Teodoro until the nineteenth century. The last important family to have ruled the area were the Sanfelice, who held the title of counts.
The Villamaina area has suffered many disasters in its history, such as the plague epidemic of 1656 that killed a large part of the population. In various centuries, in addition, the area has been hit by numerous earthquakes that damaged several buildings. The earthquake of 1980, in particular, struck all of Irpinia and was devastating for Villamaina. Many houses were seriously damaged, the church of San Rocco was completely destroyed, and some of the population were left homeless.
Economy and emigration
The economy of Villamaina is mainly based on agriculture conducted at the family level. The hilly and rocky terrain of the area does not lend itself to mechanized exploitation.
The population of Villamaina has been greatly affected by emigration. In the fifties and sixties, in particular, many inhabitants left the country to move to Argentina, Venezuela, the United States, Canada, Germany and Switzerland. Even the central and northern Italy attracted many inhabitants. This has led to a decrease in the local population.
Conclusions
In general, Villamaina is a place of great interest for those who love history and natural beauty. The area was chosen within the Campania and Irpinia countryside precisely because of its position, which allows you to enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside, but with the possibility of visiting places of historical and natural interest. Come and discover Villamaina!
