Discover Venticano: History, Wine and Landscape

Venticano combines historic townscapes with regional cuisine, craftsmanship and a landscape of broad valleys, cultivated fields and floral fragrances. Piazza del Mastro is regarded as the historic centre of Venticano and preserves an irregular white-paved surface, an old fountain and the remains of former homes. This creates a place where history, culinary enjoyment and an interest in nature can be discovered in many different ways.

Historic Venticano between the Piazza and sacred buildings

Sources dating from 881 describe Venticano as a border settlement between the medieval principalities of Citeriore near Benevento and Ulteriore near Salerno. The historic Via Regia delle Puglie passes through Venticano and connected the Tyrrhenian Sea with the Adriatic Sea. The Chiesa di S. Maria e S. Alessio brings together more recent and older traces: the church was rebuilt after the 1980 earthquake and is the surviving part of a Benedictine monastery built by Guglielmo IV. It houses a 17th-century painting depicting the Madonna and Child. The Cappella della Santa Croce was recently restored and preserves a 19th-century wooden sculpture depicting the Crucifixion.

Prosciutto, wine and artisan traditions

The Sagra del Prosciutto, del Vino e dell'Agnello was founded in 1978 and continues to this day as a local culinary tradition. Venticano is the area where Prosciutto di Venticano is dried and matured; neighbouring municipalities are also involved in processing the hindquarters of the pigs. The wineries in Venticano offer insights into the variety and richness of the wines produced there. Workshops producing artistic ceramics are another part of the local character. The ceramics are made entirely by hand using traditional techniques, historic kilns and equipment. Historically, many families living in Piazza del Mastro practised pastoral farming with sheep and goats. Sheep's milk was traditionally made into cheese and ricotta, which were then sold at markets.

Landscape and orientation within the municipal area

Near Venticano, close to the ancient Roman Ponte Rotto viaduct, lies a natural area connected with the Calore River. Castello del Lago is located on Raccordo Autostradale 9, which connects Benevento with the junction of the A16 Napoli–Canosa motorway. State Road 7, Via Appia, passes through Castello del Lago and connects the district with San Giorgio del Sannio and Calore. In Castello del Lago, the Calore Irpino River and the Torrenti Mele and Montevergine offer opportunities for nature excursions.

Festivals in Piazza del Mastro

Piazza del Mastro is the venue for the Santa Croce festival during the first months of May. The celebrations for the Immaculate Conception on 8 December in Piazza del Mastro include a bonfire and tastings of typical products.

When choosing a hotel in Venticano, you can focus on your own travel priorities: historic impressions, regional cuisine or excursions centred on nature.

More destinations

Montella, Taurasi, Contrada, Domicella, Villaggio Laceno, Bisaccia, Trevico, Rocca San Felice

For the higher-level travel overview: Avellino.