The village of Savignano Irpino winds along the ancient road that connected Sannio and Irpinia to Capitanata and Daunia. The small town is delightful, almost a jewel, where the houses are located between the Castle and the Church of San Nicola. Savignano stands in an elevated position, so much so that it offers the visitor a splendid panorama and truly healthy air. There are many historical testimonies and archaeological finds in the area, finds that mostly testify to settlements from the Paleol read more
The village of Savignano Irpino winds along the ancient road that connected Sannio and Irpinia to Capitanata and Daunia. The small town is delightful, almost a jewel, where the houses are located between the Castle and the Church of San Nicola. Savignano stands in an elevated position, so much so that it offers the visitor a splendid panorama and truly healthy air. There are many historical testimonies and archaeological finds in the area, finds that mostly testify to settlements from the Paleolithic era. It also appears that various ethnic groups have succeeded one another in the area: the Umbro-Sabelli, the Entri, the Osci and the Irpini of Samnite origin. Savignano Irpino perfectly marries its history with the evocative beauty of its places. Some documents from the 12th century report a division of Savignano into two towns, while a hamlet formed, together with Greci and Ferrara, a single Barony. Numerous Lords have succeeded one another on the dominion of Savignano and among them we remember: Manfredo Maletta, Novello Dolfi, Bernardino and Francesco Spinelli. In 1727 the Archbishop Orsini, later Pope Benedict XIII, donated to the people of Savignano a hospital called “Hospitus pro peregrinis”, currently the seat of the Town Hall and known as Palazzo Orsini. Savignano perfectly marries its history with the evocative beauty of its places: a must-see is the town east of the city center, between the woods, Lake Aguglia and the Sulphur Spring, at the foot of Mount Sant’Angelo and on the Cervaro stream. Savignano Irpino was included in the circuit of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy” in 2016
The Guevara castle stands on the highest part of a rocky ridge, today called "Tombola", in a dominant position over the Cervaro valley, allowing control over the narrow passageway towards Puglia. Castrum Sabiniani, the small medieval village, developed between the Mother Church and the castle, while the walls followed the current circumvallation of Dietro Corte and the Finestroni. To the north the village was defended by a small tower, to the south by a fortress, and, finally, by a defensive moat where today there is a small square. The structure of the castle that can be admired today only partially reflects the original layout, including the high and thick stone walls. Originally built, as already mentioned, as a defensive structure, under the Guevara family, whose coat of arms is shown in the image, it underwent a change in its intended use, given that it was transformed into a residence (1527), or rather, into a building with mixed use, being used as an administration centre and warehouse for grain and various goods (this would continue in later times, as can be seen from the land registry reports of 1753 and 1808). The earthquake of 1732 damaged the structure, which did not undergo further modifications until 1880, being still inhabited until the end of that century. The Mother Church of S. Nicola and S. Anna is located in the historic center, near the castle walls, which it was certainly incorporated into in the past, as confirmed by the coat of arms of Savignano located on the central front, dating back to 1581. The central portal is surmounted by a rose window (like the other two smaller portals). On the lunette above there is a majolica depicting St. Anna, protector of Savignano Irpino. The institution of the Parish dates back to September 8, 1588, according to the results of the baptismal records. However, it is reasonable to assume that, even if in a smaller form than the current one, the structure was pre-existing. The façade is in late Romanesque style and was built by local stonemasons using local stone from "Targiana", a place between Savignano and Monteleone. The interior has three naves in a Latin cross. The high altar, raised above the level of the church, was built with precious marbles. The columns that support the arches of the naves were made of stone. Events have affected the original layout, since before the earthquake of 1938, there was a crypt where the deceased were buried, and after its collapse it was never rebuilt, as well as the vault of the church was round, while today it is straight. A sort of chapel in itself is the Baptistery of 1514, on the right of the main portal, believed to be part of the chapel of the Norman castle. This Baptistery is surmounted by a beautiful stone portal. Among the other works of art in the church, we remember the frescoes related to the marriage between the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph and the statue of St. Anna from the 18th century. The bell tower of the church that can be seen on the left of the image, was in the shape of a tower, but following the earthquake of 1938 it was rebuilt with a pyramid-shaped dome. This bell tower, in a slightly set back position with respect to the facade, represents the oldest element of the structure (13th-14th century). read less
