Capital of its province, Avellino lies in a valley surrounded by the mounts of the Campanian Apennines chain, on the upper basin of the Sabato river.

The city counts about 60000 inhabitants.

It was built by the Hirpins , ancient local people of Campania nearby the present city, and later colonised by the Romans and named Abellinum. In the V century, it was a Bishop’s seat and in 571 was conquered by the Longobards, who built it on the present site and joined it to the independent Longobard Government of Benevento.

In the X century Avellino was destroyed by the Emperor Otto I and than rebuilt. From the XII to the XVI centuries it was dominated by noble families; the Caracciolo raised to the title of Princes of Avellino up till 1844.

The city has a modern area, consisting of straight streets and an historical middle-age centre, with imposing buildings such as the Cathedral of the XII century and rebuilt in the XIX century, the baroque clock-tower, work of the architect Cosimo Fanzago from Bergamo, who worked extensively in the area of Avellino around the first half of the six hundreds.

The archaeological Museum of Avellino holds an interesting collection of artefacts of pre-roman and Roman period. Nearby Avellino under the summit of the Partenio mountain the Montevergine Sanctuary rises at 1270 m. height with a modern church joined to the ancient one rebuilt in the six hundred and religious buildings of the XVII century and with an abbey-museum.

Avellino is the most important distribution centre for agricultural products from its surrounding area, with food-industries, and an excellent wine-production. Handmade felt hats characterized the local handicraft.

The province of Avellino consist of 119 municipalities spread out in a mainly mountainous area with an economy based on agriculture.