Montefredane

Montefredane is a comune in the province of Avellino, Campania, southern Italy.

Montefredane
Comune
Comune di Montefredane
Location of Montefredane
Montefredane Location of Montefredane in Italy Montefredane Montefredane (Campania)
Coordinates: 40°58′N 14°49′E
Country	Italy
Region	Campania
Province	Avellino (AV)
Frazioni	Alimata (Frazione Gaita), Arcella, Boscomagliano (o Bosco Magliano), Montefredane
Government
• Mayor	Valentino Tropeano
Area [1]
• Total	9.45 km^2 (3.65 sq mi)
Elevation	593 m (1,946 ft)
Population  (31 December 2017)[2]
• Total	2,239
• Density	240/km^2 (610/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Montefredanesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	83030
Dialing code	0825
Patron saint	San Nicola
Saint day	6 December
Website	Official website

History

The area where Montefredane stands today was inhabited in ancient times by the Samnites. Later, Roman populations settled near the present days village of Arcella. The main buildings of Montefredane date back to the sixth century AD, when the inhabitants of Abellinum (now Atripalda) fled here after the destruction of their village. In the Middle Ages, Montefredane was mentioned in the Catalogus Baronum (1150–68) as part of the county of Avellino. In the following centuries, through ups and downs related to the names of several noble families, such as De Tufo, Capece, Brancaccio and Orsini, Montefredane gained increasing importance, until the plague of 1656 greatly reduced its development. Between 1650 and 1806 the land was owned by the noble family of Caracciolo, who brought it to its former splendor with the construction of the castle. The town was badly damaged by the 1980 Irpinia earthquake.

References

1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
2. Demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat); (in Italian)Dati - Popolazione residente all'1/5/2009