Province of Avellino

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Province of Avellino
Provincia di Avellino (Italian)
Province
Palazzo Caracciolo, the provincial seat
Palazzo Caracciolo, the provincial seat
Flag of Province of Avellino
Flag
Coat of arms of Province of Avellino
Coat of arms
Map highlighting the location of the province of Avellino in Italy
Map highlighting the location of the province of Avellino in Italy
Country Italy
Region Campania
Capital(s)Avellino
Municipalities118
Government
 • PresidenteRizieri Buonopane (PD)
Area
[1]
 • Total
2,806.07 km2 (1,083.43 sq mi)
Population
 (2026)[2]
 • Total
393,093
 • Density140.087/km2 (362.823/sq mi)
GDP
[3]
 • Total€7.467 billion (2015)
 • Per capita€17,502 (2015)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
83010-83018, 83020-83032, 83034-83054, 83056-83059
Telephone prefix081, 082, 0824, 0825, 0827, 0835
Vehicle registrationAV
ISTAT code064

The Province of Avellino (Italian: provincia di Avellino) is a province in the region of Campania in southern Italy. Its capital is the city of Avellino. It has a population of 393,093 in an area of 2,806.07 square kilometres (1,083.43 sq mi) across its 118 municipalities.[2][1]

It is an inner province, with no connection to the sea. The area is characterized by numerous small towns and villages scattered across the province; only two towns have a population over 20,000.

History

Ruins of the town Aeclanum.

The ancient inhabitants of the area were the Hirpini, whose name stems from the Oscan term hirpus ("wolf"), an animal that is still present in the territory, though in greatly reduced numbers.

In the province of Avellino there are many archaeological Roman sites, with Aeclanum being the most important. In the Middle Age, the County of Ariano was the first political body established in 1022 by the Normans in the South of Italy,[4] and there Roger II (crowned King of Sicily in the Cathedral of Avellino in 1130) promulgated in 1140 the Assizes of Ariano, the first legislative code of the Kingdom.

In the medieval Kingdom of Naples (later Kingdom of Two Sicilies) the provincial area roughly corresponded to the Principato Ultra, though some places were included in Capitanata or Principato Citra. The modern province was established in 1860, after the unification of Italy.

Towns in the province of Avellino were hit the hardest in the 1980 Irpinia earthquake.

Municipalities

The province has 118 municipalities:

Demographics

As of 2026, the population is 393,093, of which 49.4% are male, and 50.6% are female. Minors make up 13.8% of the population, and seniors make up 25.0%.[2]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1861341,881—    
1871360,930+5.6%
1881376,207+4.2%
1901397,885+5.8%
1911400,315+0.6%
1921415,151+3.7%
1931422,678+1.8%
1936445,069+5.3%
YearPop.±%
1951493,742+10.9%
1961463,671−6.1%
1971426,395−8.0%
1981434,021+1.8%
1991438,812+1.1%
2001429,178−2.2%
2011429,157−0.0%
2021401,451−6.5%
Source: ISTAT[5][6]

Immigration

As of 2025, the foreign-born population is 30,295, making up 7.7% of the total population. The 5 largest foreign countries of origin are Switzerland (5,088), Ukraine (2,913), Romania (2,665), Germany (2,293) and Venezuela (1,563).[7]

Main sights

The Norman Castle within lush greenery in Ariano Irpino.
Territorial Abbey of Montevergine
Franciscan Friary of Folloni
Ariano Irpino Cathedral
Roman Amphitheatre of Avella
Early Christian basilica of Prata

Tourist destinations are the Sanctuaries of Montevergine, San Gerardo Maiella of Caposele and San Francesco a Folloni; the ski resort of Laceno; the Norman Castle and the Cathedral Church of Ariano Irpino, the archeological areas of Avella and Aeclanum, the Lancellotti castle in Lauro, the medieval town of Gesualdo, the Roman ruins of Abellinum and the early Christian basilica in Prata. The Selachoidei National Gallery at Avellino houses one of the largest collections of cartilaginous fishes in the country, whereas the City Museum and Ceramics Gallery at Ariano Irpino shows a print room with a great display of typical Ariano Maiolica.

Natural attractions include the Monti Piacentini and Partenio Regional Parks, together with two WWF sites, Valle della Caccia in Senerchia and the area around the Ofanto dam in Conza della Campania.

Cuisine

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

See also

References

  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011" (in Italian). ISTAT.
  2. "Resident population". ISTAT.
  3. Regions and Cities > Regional Statistics > Regional Economy > Regional Gross Domestic Product (Small regions TL3), OECD.Stats. Accessed on 16 November 2018.
  4. "Il Mezzogiorno agli inizi dell'XI secolo" [Southern Italy at the beginning of 11th century]. European Center for Norman Studies (in Italian).
  5. "Popolazione residente dei comuni. Censimenti dal 1861 al 1991" [Resident population of the municipalities. Censuses from 1861 to 1991] (PDF) (in Italian). ISTAT. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-11-12.
  6. "Resident population - Time series". ISTAT.
  7. "Resident population by sex, municipality and citizenship". ISTAT.


40°54′55″N 14°47′23″E / 40.91528°N 14.78972°E / 40.91528; 14.78972