Province of Avellino

Infobox_ProvinceIT
fullname = Province of Avellino
name = Avellino
region = Campania
capital = Avellino
commune = 119
area = 2,792
population_as_of = (2010)
population = 429,073
populationdensity = 154
vehicle = AV
postal_code = 83010-83018, 83020-83032, 83034-83054, 83056-83059
telephone_prefix = 081, 082, 0824, 0825, 0827, 0835
ISTAT = 064
president = Alberta De Simone




The Province of Avellino ( _it. Provincia di Avellino) is a province in the Campania region of Italy. The area is typified by many small towns and villages scattered across the province; in fact only two towns have a population over 20,000; its capital city Avellino and Ariano Irpino.

It has an area of 2,792 km², and a total population of 429,178 (2001). There are 119 "comuni" (singluar: "comune") in the province, [cite news|url=http://www.upinet.it/indicatore.asp?id_statistiche=6|publisher=UpiNet.it|title=Avellino Stats|date=20 November 2007] see Comuni of the Province of Avellino.

In the ancient Kingdom of Naples the province roughly corresponded to the "Principato Ultra", though some places were included in "Capitanata" or "Principato Citra". It is an inner province, unconnected to the sea. The ancient name of the area was "Hirpinia" (modern Italian: "Irpinia"), derived from the Oscan "hirpus", wolf, an animal that is still present in the territory though in greatly reduced numbers. The province has great environmental interest including the Regional Parks Monti Picentini and Partenio, together with two WWF sites, Valle della Caccia in Senerchia and the area around the Ofanto dam in Conza della Campania.

Typical products are hazelnuts (one third of the whole Italian production), the chestnut of Montella, the renowned wines Aglianico, Taurasi, Greco and Fiano, cherries, cheeses (as the caciocavallo of Montella), the black truffle of Bagnoli Irpino.

Avellino was known for its royal guards during the medieval and Roman times.

The main tourist destinations are the Sanctuaries of Montevergine (over 300,000 visitors per year)Fact|date=July 2007 and of San Gerardo a Maiella, the archeological areas of Avella and Eclano, the Lancellotti castle, the early Christian Basilica in Prata.

References

External links

* [http://www.provincia.avellino.it Provincia di Avellino homepage] it icon
* [http://www.comune.frigento.av.it/Citta/Link.asp Lupi Emigranti ] it icon en icon founded by Frigento(AV)'s students and workers in order to get in touch with Province of Avellino's emigrants