Ariano Irpino

Ariano Irpino lies upon the Irpinian Apennines and is almost centred between the Adriatic Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its population is roughly 22,500 (2017) and its elevation is 788 metres (2,585 ft) above sea level, which brings the town a mild climate in summer and some snow in winter.

It used to be called Ariano or weirdly Ariano di Puglia ("Apulian Ariano"), although it was never part of Apulia. Ariano Irpino was legally granted the status of città ("city") in 1952.

The official and most widely spoken language in Ariano Irpino is Italian. A variety of Irpinian dialect (similar to Neapolitan) is used too. English is the most commonly spoken foreign language, although the average knowledge of English is far from excellent.

The town has very ancient origins, and there are two archaeological sites in the area: the Neolithic village of La Starza (the oldest in Campania) and the Roman village of Aequum Tuticum (a road junction between the Via Traiana and the Via Herculea). The historical centre of Ariano has medieval origins. Founded by the Lombards, it assumed great importance under the Normans. King Roger II lived there and held the famous Assizes of Ariano (in the 12th century). It was devastated by the Saracens of Lucera, but rose again under the Angevins. It was one of the first southern towns to free itself from the feudal yoke (in 1585).

Except at peak hours, traffic is flowing and parking is easy and cheap. Most distances in the historic centre are small and can be walked in a matter of minutes: only remember to always look left for incoming cars or motorbikes because circulation follows European standards.

The bus terminal is a 10-minute walk-away, but you can conveniently use the intermediate stops.

There is also Circolare, an urban bus service that connects all points of the town (except the train station), but the frequency is poor (1 every hour on weekdays, 1 every 2 hours on holidays); you will pay €1.20 if you buy the ticket onboard the bus, but only €1 if you buy it at an authorized selling point or tobacco shops (Tabaccheria, easily identified by a big white "T" on a rectangular black field). In any case the validity is one hour.

Despite wars and earthquakes the town retains several historic buildings and ancient sights.

• 🌍 Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta), Piazza Duomo. The Romanesque cathedral preserves a High-Medieval baptismal font, various artistic works and a silver museum, while nearby are the bishop's palace, many other churches, the diocesan museum and the museum dedicated to Giuseppina Arcucci, founder of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit's nuns. (updated May 2019)
• 🌍 Norman Castle (Castello Normanno), Piazza Lusi, ☏ +39 0825 875-100. Tu-Su 10:30-12:30, 17:00-19:00. Founded by the Lombards, this castle became very important under the Normans, when it was the head of a powerful county; there did King Roger II stay and there he held the Assizes of Ariano and coined the ducat. Later the castle was remodeled by the Angevins and the Aragonese. All around the castle there is a wide and panoramic public park. (updated Jun 2023)
• 🌍 Palazzo San Giacomo, Via Tranesi. On a cliff overlooking the Irpinian valleys, it used to be a hospital. Thereabouts were many ancient majolica furnaces, and nowadays the building houses a permanent exhibition of majolica art. (updated May 2019)
• 🌍 Palazzo Forte, Via D'Afflitto. Home of the European Centre for Norman Studies, and the Archaeological, Civic & Ceramics Museum. The town has a long, ancient history and is still a center of ceramics manufacturing. (updated May 2019)
• 🌍 Palazzo Bevere, Via Mancini. It is a majestic building that in 18th century was converted into a high-school complex. Today it houses the museum of Norman civilization. (updated Jun 2023)
• 🌍 Norman Civilization Museum, Largo Bevere square. Set in an evocative historical setting, it houses weapons and artifacts of all kinds dating back to the Middle Ages in general and to the Norman era in particular. (updated Jun 2023)
• Civic and Ceramics Museum, Via d'Afflitto (Forte Palace). In addition to numerous prints and period images, the Museum exhibits a wide range of local majolica and ceramics dating back to the 12th century. 
• Silver Museum, Piazza Plebiscito (Cathedral Basilica). Inside it houses a good number of ancient finely worked silver works, although the most precious find is a case containing two Holy Thorns of Christ donated to the city by King Charles of Anjou in the 13th century. 
• 🌍 Diocesan Museum, Via Annunziata (at Piazza Duomo). Divided into several sections, the museum contains paintings, textiles, wood and stone from the entire diocese, attested since the 10th century. 
• Arcucci Museum, Via Mancini (behind the town hall, at the Sisters of the Holy Spirit), ☏ +39 0825 871480. Dedicated to the founder of an entire female religious order, it houses ancient monastic finds as well as contemporary artistic works of the missionary field. 
• 🌍 Archaeological Museum, Via Donato Anzani (Forte Palace), ☏ +39 0825 824935. Next to the Civic Museum, it exhibits archaeological finds from the nearby Valle del Miscano, continuously populated since the Paleolithic. 
• Biogeo, Museum of the History of Life and Earth, contrada Camporeale (inside the Biogem research center, 8 km from the centre). This curious museum provides, thanks to paleontological finds, reproductions and multimedia supports, a realistic and compelling picture of the origin and evolution of life on Earth. 
• 🌍 Sanctuary of the Madonna of Valleluogo, Valleluogo district (in a green valley 4 km from the centre, along the provincial road to Montecalvo). Ancient Marian sanctuary built near a water mill after the Madonna appeared to the miller's daughter. The mill is also well preserved and can be visited. 
• 🌍 La Starza, contrada Cristina (12 km from the city centre, along the SS 90 Bis). Neolithic village (near a chalk cliff at 410 m asl), the oldest in Campania, populated continuously from the sixth millennium BC until around 900 BC The area is rich in woods and water. 
• * Aequum Tuticum, contrada S.Eleuterio (16 km from the city centre, along the SS 90 Bis). Ancient Roman village (on a plateau at 575 m asl), at the intersection between the Via Traiana and the Via Herculea. In the early Middle Ages the village, located along the Via Francigena , came back to life, but only for a few centuries. However, nearby it is still possible to admire several majestic medieval farms. 

Halfway between the Romanesque Cathedral and the Norman Castle, along via Tribunali street, there is the Communal Auditorium "Lina Wertmüller". Instead the nightclubs are in the suburbs, along the statal road.

• Ariano International Film Festival (AIFF), July and August. International film festival.
• Historical re-enactment of the gift of the Holy Thorns, in Italian Rievocazione storica del dono delle Sacre Spine. August. Ancient historical reenactment.
• Pizza party, in Italian Festa della Pizza (in Bosco Frólice, a large green area 5 km from the city center, on the road to Montecalvo Irpino). August. Traditional feast dedicated to good food and excellent company.
• Ariano Oktoberfest (in the same location as Pizza party). September and October. A beer and music festival.
• Ariano Folkfestival (AFF), August and December. International folk music festival

BioGeM is a university consortium based in Ariano Irpino. Its campus runs master's degrees in biomedical, biochemical and bio-juridical fields. The town is also home to Pegaso e-learning university and the European Center for Norman Studies.

An employment office is available along SS-90 statal road, but if you want to find a job in a short time ask around at the hotels, restaurants, bars and shops. However, learning Italian is a worthwhile activity if you plan to stay in Ariano Irpino for any length of time.

In the historic center there is plenty of small and typical shops, among which the traditional majolica ones stand out. There are important fairs on Palm Sunday, on Sunday in Albis, on June 13th, on July 16th and on November 1st. The weekly market takes place on Wednesday.

Large distribution chains find a place in the outskirts, with two big fairs: on the second Sunday of May in Cardito suburb, and on the last Sunday of July (or the first Sunday of August) in Martiri suburb.

• La Pignata, a high level restaurant near the bus station, offers many typical local products.
• San Domenico, a middle-class restaurant, is just in front of the police station.
• Pizzerias, delis, rotisseries and pastry shops are everywhere, whereas agritourism accommodations are numerous in the countryside.

The typical place for nightlife movida is around the bars and cafes on Piazza Duomo, Piazza Plebiscito and Piazza Ferrara, within the old town. Many pubs are also in Piazza Pasteni, at the terminal bus, becoming busy after about 22:00. If you want to venture to the outskirts of the city, there are many clubs and discos along the statal road.

• 🌍 Casa Vacanze L' Archetto, Via R. D'Afflitto, 33, ☏ +39 333 330 8537. Vacation apartment with balcony overlooking the town. (updated Jul 2021)

A few luxury hotels are instead in the suburbs, along the statal road.

The town has a free network of public Wi-Fi access, which covers several areas in the historic centre with each area being indicated by a special signal.

All around the town there are several medieval villages, each of them with only hundreds or, at most, a few thousand inhabitants. Among them, Zungoli, Savignano Irpino and Greci better retain their ancient shape and the surrounding natural environment.

From Ariano Irpino it is also very easy to reach the provincial capital Avellino (50 km away) and the regional capital Naples (100 km away) by car or public transport.