Summonte is a charming little medieval town in the province of Avellino in the Campania region.
Trekking and music festivals
Just eight kilometres from Avellino town, which in turn is less than 60 kilometres from Naples, Summonte was once a centre for the production of mulberry trees, the leaves of which were used in silk making. At 750 metres asl, visiting Summonete means not only discovering the charms of the historic centre and the environmental route, but also quenching one's thirst directly at the purest spring water springs. It also means enjoying enchanting trekking trails, mountain refuges and carefree evenings at music festivals and traditional fairs savouring local products.
Submontis is an old Roman site
Summonte, which is also an easy drive from the Royal Palace of Caserta and the Sorrento and Amalfi Coasts, is rich in art, nature, history, culture, food, wine and local traditions. Travellers on the lookout for new places to explore can discover Submontis, the old Roman site at the foot of Mount Vallatrone. Visitors will also be awed by the majestic linden tree which is nearly 300 years old, has a circumference of nine metres, stands 34 metres tall in the Piazza De Vito, and is in the census of Italian monumental trees.
Exceptional views from the Angevin Tower
The medieval town is dominated by the majestic Angevin Tower which is 16 metres tall and consists of five floors. Having been brought back to its ancient splendor it now hosts a permanent exhibition with documentation relating to the history of the territory, and there are exceptional views from the terrace. The Civic Museum inside the castle complex has two sections: one dedicated to medieval armaments, the other to archaeological finds discovered in the castle, testifying to uninterrupted use from the Middle Ages to the modern age.
Priceless art, chestnuts and porcini mushrooms
The Arch of Saint Nicholas, dedicated to the patron saint, once the main gateway to the medieval town opened at dawn and closed at dusk, and has an inscription with an image of the saint at the top. The Church of San Nicola da Bari has an elegant polychrome marble high altar with inlays and sculptures, and on the walls there are many paintings of great artistic and cultural value. The town’s typical dish is a chestnut and porcini mushroom soup made from locally gathered mushrooms and the area’s renowned Partenio chestnuts.
