ETIMOLOGY AND HISTORY

Altavilla Irpina is one of the few places where you can still attend an ancient historical commemoration, in Ponte dei Santi, an area where there was an old walnut that was then uprooted by the bishop in order to eliminate any kind of activity related to pagan cults. It is the janare (local witches) sabbath, an event that today is celebrated in a modern way on June 24th with dances and a excellent local cuisine. Altavilla was on the highest point of the territory occupied by Caudini, one of the many tribes of the Sannio people, and for this reason it took the name of Altacauda. Destroyed by the Norman King Roger II of Hauteville (Altavilla), after a while Luigi De Capua took the village and changed the name in Altavilla (Hauteville, in Normandy).

At the end of the Middle Ages it became the residence of the Princess of Modica (Sicily) Costanza of Chiaromonte, bride of Andrea II De Capua (Prince of Riccia and Triconte di Altavilla); the watermelon Palio celebrates the princess with a local product. The following Spanish domination lasted for about two centuries and left important signs, many of which can be still seen in the architectural remains of the old town, but we can have a full overview of everyday life of the locals thanks to the Museum of the People without History that was founded after the 1980 earthquake, following the discoveries of some bodies dating back to the eighteenth century during some restoration of historic buildings.