Description of the attraction
Avella is a city in the province of Avellino in the Italian region of Campania. Ancient Abella, located 10 km northeast of Nola, was a city of average importance, both for its first inhabitants, the Samnites, and later for the Romans. Its attraction was a large amphitheater, similar to the one in Pompeii. It can be assumed that the founders of Abella were the ancient Greeks from Chalcis, and later she became an Oscan city, like neighboring Nola. Strabo and Pliny mention Avella as one of the cities of Campania, which did not have the status of a colony.
Present-day Avella is located on a plain at the foot of the Apennine mountains, and the ruins of the ancient city, still known as Avella Vecchia, occupy a very high hill, from which a panoramic view of the plain below opens. On the territory of the hill, fragments of an amphitheater, a temple, various residential buildings, as well as part of the ancient city walls have been preserved - the total area of the archaeological excavation zone is quite large. One of the most important exhibits found here is a long inscription in the dead Osk language that tells of the alliance between the inhabitants of Avella and Nola. The inscription dates back to the period of the Second Punic War (3rd century BC) and is distinguished by an abundance of interesting details.
Not far from Avella is the Grotto di Camerelle di Pianura karst cave. And among the medieval city attractions, you can name the Church of Santi Martiri Nazario e Celcio, built in the 9-11th centuries.
