Gesualdo
Gesualdo (AV)
Hidden gemVillages
The story
The village bears the name of Carlo Gesualdo, prince and accursed musician: in his castle he withdrew to compose madrigals of rare disquiet, pursued by the murder he had committed.
Access
FREE/castle
The story
Clinging to a ridge of central Irpinia, between the valleys of the Ufita and the Ansanto, Gesualdo bears — as tradition has it — the name of a Lombard knight, rewarded in the seventh century by the Duke of Benevento. But the name that has made it famous in the world is that of Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613), Prince of Venosa and last lord of the house: a composer of madrigals among the boldest of his time, and at the same time the protagonist of a dark affair that still wraps the town. It was he who turned the ancient Norman fortress into the castle that today dominates the village.
What to see
The castle is the heart of Gesualdo: born as a Norman fortress and turned into a seigneurial residence at the will of Prince Carlo, it closes the old village with its mass. Around it, the old centre gathers in alleys and stairways facing the valley of the Fredane, with the wide horizon of hilly Irpinia as a backdrop.
How to get there
- Car needed
Public transport. Il trasporto pubblico in quest'area interna è limitato: i collegamenti in autobus sono radi e non sempre giornalieri. In pratica il luogo è difficilmente raggiungibile senza un mezzo proprio; per eventuali autolinee e per la stazione ferroviaria utile più vicina, verifica su Unico Campania e sui canali ufficiali degli operatori regionali (AIR Campania). · fonte: Fallback onesto — area interna, routing transit non disponibile
Hours and prices
Free entry.
Tips
We are in the hinterland at almost seven hundred metres: cool air even in summer, and the car is the handiest way to get there. It is worth approaching Gesualdo with one of his madrigals in your headphones: the town and the music of its prince explain each other. Reckon on some ups and downs on foot among the alleys of the old centre.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Carlo Gesualdo?
Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613), Prince of Venosa and last lord of the house, was a famous composer of madrigals and turned the ancient Norman fortress into the castle of the village.
Can you visit the castle of Gesualdo?
The castle dominates the old centre and is the symbol-monument of the town; for visiting arrangements and hours it is best to check on the official channels of the Municipality before setting off.
Where is Gesualdo?
In central Irpinia, in the province of Avellino, on a ridge between the valleys of the Ufita and the Ansanto, at about 680 metres of altitude.
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