Montemarano is the stronghold of Aglianico wine and the Montemaranese Tarantella that accompanies the masked parades during the historic carnival
The origins of Montemarano date back to the Bronze Age and the wars between the Samnites and the Romans when, according to tradition, it was founded by a valiant Irpinia leader Mario Egnazio. Also according to tradition, at that time, on the surrounding hills stood a temple dedicated to Jupiter, on whose foundations today stands the Cathedral Church read more
Montemarano is the stronghold of Aglianico wine and the Montemaranese Tarantella that accompanies the masked parades during the historic carnival
The origins of Montemarano date back to the Bronze Age and the wars between the Samnites and the Romans when, according to tradition, it was founded by a valiant Irpinia leader Mario Egnazio. Also according to tradition, at that time, on the surrounding hills stood a temple dedicated to Jupiter, on whose foundations today stands the Cathedral Church of Santa Maria Assunta, mentioned for the first time in a papal bull by Pope Stephen IX, inside which are there are important paintings such as that of the "Madonna with Child and angels" attributed to Andrea Vaccaro (1600-1670), the "chair" of San Giovanni, not exposed to the public, and a silver bust of San Giovanni dating back to the 18th century .
The period of greatest development of the village, however, falls around the year 1000 when the bishop Giovanni, who later became the patron saint of the town, was able to defend Montemarano from the invasions of the Norman peoples. The impregnability of the town is evidenced by the presence of a medieval castle erected at the highest point of the village, at over 800 meters above sea level, probably in the second half of the eighth century. Among the numerous feudal lords who lived there, a place of honor belongs to Giambattista Basile, governor of Montemarano between 1615 and 1616, who finished his first draft of "Lo Cunto de li Cunti" within those walls. Restored several times, the last in 2015, to preserve its current late-Renaissance structure, it now houses the MuVim, the Aglianico Wine ecomuseum.
The Montemaranese Carnival has very ancient origins and is one of the most popular events in all of Irpinia. The event involves the entire community and attracts tourists from all over Campania and develops through several processions of masks that parade along the streets of the village, led by the "Caporaballo" dressed in white with a red band, on the notes of the traditional Tarantella Montemaranese, whose melody, according to accredited sources, was imported during the domination by the Bulgarians and then reworked by the local community. read less
