Discover Calitri: Old Town, Churches and Crafts
Accommodation in Calitri
Calitri lies on a tuff ridge at the foot of the Ofanto. The inhabited center preserves a triangular layout, a medieval character and narrow streets. Calitri Sculture comprises works of art along a route that leads through the old town. The route is approximately 1.2 km long and leads uphill. If you would like to combine art, the townscape and physical activity while exploring, this ensemble offers a specific starting point for your planning.
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Photo: Bernardino Galgano via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sacred Architecture in the Old Town
The sacred architecture includes the Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione: construction began in 1710 and lasted four years. The Chiesa Della Ss. Annunziata is a sixteenth-century church. Its characteristic Renaissance portal with lunette is inspired by Romanesque architecture.
The wooden high altar of the Chiesa Della Ss. Annunziata is Baroque and dates from the eighteenth century; the sculptures can be attributed to Pietro Nittoli. This allows you to view the church through several historical layers, from the Renaissance portal to the Baroque altar. It is precisely this combination of architecture and furnishings that makes the church a specific subject for a culturally oriented stay.
Customs and Crafts
Another cultural focus is the Good Friday procession. It has taken place for around three centuries at dawn on Good Friday, passing through the streets of the historic center and climbing to Calvario Hill. The route combines the early start with the transition between the town center and the hilltop. If you take this occasion into account, the time of day is just as much part of the planning as the route through the historic center to Calvario Hill.
Crafts are also clearly represented in Calitri. There are ceramic workshops there that continue a centuries-old craft tradition. L’anima Del Legno transforms reclaimed wooden objects into furnishings that incorporate symbols and meanings from traditional craft culture. Both examples show different materials and forms of local creativity.
In December, at the Sagra della Scarpegghia in the historic center, you can taste local products and discover local handicrafts. In addition to architecture, art and crafts, this adds an occasion explicitly associated with December.
Another Historical Reference
Monticchio-Santa Maria di Luco is an ancient site in the vicinity of Calitri. If, alongside churches, art and crafts, you would also like to include ancient sites in your trip, you can add this place as a separate point to your daily itinerary.
Choose Accommodation Based on Your Interests
When choosing a hotel or other accommodation in Calitri, you can first define your focus: sacred architecture, the medieval character of the town, the Calitri Sculture art route, ceramics, reclaimed wood or an event in December. You can give these themes different levels of importance when planning your accommodation and itinerary. This keeps your planning focused on the interests you actually want to pursue in Calitri.
Other Places
Also discover Sant'angelo, San Michele di Serino, Ariano Irpino, Gesualdo, Nusco, Pietradefusi, Vallata and Monteverde.
For the higher-level travel overview: Avellino.
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