Monteverde
Monteverde (AV)
Hidden gemVillages
The story
Between the valleys of the Ofanto and the Osento, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy gathers around its castle: alleys of pale stone where every year the black storks come back to nest.
Access
FREE
The story
At the eastern end of Irpinia, where the hills descend towards the Vulture and the Ofanto, Monteverde is a village of a few hundred inhabitants included in the circuit of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy. It was an episcopal seat from the eleventh century until the sixteenth, and between 1532 and 1641 it constituted the Lordship of Monteverde for the Grimaldi, Princes of Monaco and Marquesses of Campagna. Its centre rises on an impervious height, between the Osento stream and the river Ofanto.
What to see
The old village, with the castle and its stone streets, is the reason for the visit, but Monteverde is also nature: a few kilometres away the artificial lake of San Pietro, rich in vegetation and a stopover for migratory birds, and the Foresta Mezzana, 456 hectares of oak woods among the few unspoilt sites of the area, much loved by birdwatchers. In spring, in the municipal territory, the very rare black stork nests.
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 a secluded corner of eastern Irpinia: the car is almost indispensable and the distances are not trivial, but it is precisely this isolation that keeps it intact. Combine the village with the nature around — the lake of San Pietro and the Foresta Mezzana — and bring binoculars if you are interested in birdwatching. For the black stork, spring is the season.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monteverde among the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy?
Yes, the municipality is included in the national circuit of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy.
What is there to see in the nature around Monteverde?
The artificial lake of San Pietro, an important stopover for migratory birds, and the Foresta Mezzana, 456 hectares of oak woods ideal for birdwatching.
Is it true that the black stork nests at Monteverde?
Yes: since 2010, in spring, the very rare black stork nests in the municipal territory.
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