Auletta

The town of Auletta is flanked downstream by the Tanagro river that crosses the entire territory until it intersects with the tributary Bianco river near the industrial area of ​​Buccino, furthermore it falls within the perimeter area of ​​the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni national park. Near its territory fall the Pertosa-Auletta caves (Angel caves).

Origin of name: According to a legend cited by the abbot Giovan Battista Pacichelli, Auletta was founded by Auleto, companion of Aeneas. Some historians instead claim that the term Auletta is a phytonym: since the area is rich in olive trees (Olea europea), the name derives from “olea”. Notarial documents have been found to support this theory in which the city is named as “olibola” in 1095 and as “olivola” in 1131.

Around the year 1000, Auletta had already been fortified and had three access routes, which converged towards the three gates of the surrounding walls called: Porta del Castello, Porta del Fiume and Porta Rivellino or Piano. In that period, the Castello Marchesale with its towers had already been built, which was an integral part of the defense system of the Duchy of Salerno and in 1535 allowed it to resist the Spanish troops of Charles V. In the Norman era, this land was dominated by Guglielm read more

Around the year 1000, Auletta had already been fortified and had three access routes, which converged towards the three gates of the surrounding walls called: Porta del Castello, Porta del Fiume and Porta Rivellino or Piano. In that period, the Castello Marchesale with its towers had already been built, which was an integral part of the defense system of the Duchy of Salerno and in 1535 allowed it to resist the Spanish troops of Charles V. In the Norman era, this land was dominated by Guglielmo di Principato, belonging to the Altavilla lineage, then by the Gesualdo, the Vitilio and the Di Gennaro. In the Aragonese period, it became a "promiscuous land" of the fiefdom of Caggiano. Later, a fiefdom of the De Gennaro and, by female succession, of the Castriota Scanderbech. In 1691, Auletta had 600 inhabitants with 8 priests and 15 clerics. In addition to the church of San Nicola there was a monastery of Benedictine monks that guarded the relic of the incorrupt arm of San Donato placed in a silver reliquary. The archiepiscopal table of Conza had large possessions in Auletta ("Cronista Conzana" by Castellani). [...] read less