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The
``Antico Borgo Calitri'' is in the oldest section
of the 6,500-strong town of Calitri and is dominated
by the castle which predates the 12th century.
The town is known to locals in the Irpinia area
as the ``Positano d'Irpinia'' because its pastel
colors and architecture are reminiscent of villages
on the Amalfi coast. Calitri is surrounded by
idyllic countryside interspersed with rivers,
lakes, fields, woods and archeological ruins.
It's origins are lost in the mists of time, and
the town and the areas around it are dotted with
archeological remains dating back to ancient Rome
and beyond. In the centuries following the decline
of the Roman Empire the area became an important
route of communication and transport connecting
the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic coast. It fell
under the control of Fedric II of Svevia during
his reign in the 12th century and was then subjected
to Spanish dominion, and later became difficult
to visit when many locals turned into makeshift
highway men to combat the Napoleonic dominion
of the 1800s. This turned the region into an isolated,
insecure and poor area, which in turn encouraged
workers and families in the early 1900s to emigrate
to the richer north of Italy as well as North
and South America in search of a better future,
which led many a household to be abandoned. The
local economy also suffered from an earthquake
in the 1980s similar to one that took place in
the region of Umbria in 1997.
History has helped mould the gastronomical
customs of the area. Most of the typical mouthwatering
dishes are based on home-grown agricultural produce,
meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables. Age-old
recipes passed down through generations are still
prevalent today and are founded on the traditions
of the healthy Mediterranean diet. Local wines
are also an important attraction, some of which,
like the Greco di Tufo, Fiano di Avellino, Lacrymae
Christi, Taurasi and the Aglianico, are well known
and appreciated around the world.
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