Melito vecchia is the town abandoned after the earthquake of 1962; now defined as a ghost town: a place that, like all uninhabited villages, is very suggestive and where, in addition to the ruins of the Castle, there are only the remains of the Old Church of Sant'Egidio. The Castle of Melito Irpino, probably of Lombard origin, has been damaged by various events, in particular by the fire of 1779, following which the repairs changed its original appearance, and by the aforementioned earthquake of read more
Melito vecchia is the town abandoned after the earthquake of 1962; now defined as a ghost town: a place that, like all uninhabited villages, is very suggestive and where, in addition to the ruins of the Castle, there are only the remains of the Old Church of Sant'Egidio. The Castle of Melito Irpino, probably of Lombard origin, has been damaged by various events, in particular by the fire of 1779, following which the repairs changed its original appearance, and by the aforementioned earthquake of 1962, which made it unsafe, making it necessary to demolish the oldest part of the structure, a circular tower and the square tower. Of the old Castle, the thick local stone walls remain intact today, while some characteristics of its previous appearance are mostly intuitable or deducible from specific documentation, or from the presence of some elements, including the still evident holes in which the ancient doors were erected or the moat that was visible until not long ago. Symbol of Melito Vecchia, the Castle is a strong historical-cultural testimony of great importance for the entire local community. The Church of Sant'Egidio is located near the ruins of the Castle, the religious building was also abandoned following the 1962 earthquake that made it unusable. Despite this, the stone facade of the Church and its bell tower are still in good condition and, although it is not possible to access them, they make the discovery of Melito Vecchia pleasant and suggestive. Emblem, together with the fortress of Meliton, of a significant past that has its roots in the Roman era, the ruins of the Church of Sant'Egidio still resist, even today, the elements and the passing of the years. read less
