Rocca San Felice is a town and comune in the province of Avellino, Campania, southern Italy.

Rocca San Felice
Comune di Rocca San Felice
Coat of arms of Rocca San Felice
Location of Rocca San Felice
Map
Rocca San Felice is located in Italy
Rocca San Felice
Rocca San Felice
Location of Rocca San Felice in Italy
Rocca San Felice is located in Campania
Rocca San Felice
Rocca San Felice
Rocca San Felice (Campania)
Coordinates: 40°57′N 15°10′E / 40.950°N 15.167°E / 40.950; 15.167
CountryItaly
RegionCampania
ProvinceAvellino (AV)
Government
 • MayorGuido Cipriano
Area
 • Total
14.41 km2 (5.56 sq mi)
Elevation
740 m (2,430 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2017)[2]
 • Total
835
 • Density58/km2 (150/sq mi)
DemonymRocchesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
83050
Dialing code0827
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

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Located in the central area of Irpinia, the municipality borders with Frigento, Guardia Lombardi, Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, Sturno and Villamaina. It counts no hamlets (frazioni) but some localities as Carmasciano, Fontana dell'Olmo, Palombaia, Santa Felicita, Serro del Bosco, Taverna Bruciata, Toriello and Valli.

The town is 4 kilometres (2 mi) from Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, 10 kilometres (6 mi) from Lioni, 47 kilometres (29 mi) from Avellino and 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Benevento.

Main sights

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Among the main sights of the town there is the Castle and the old town, the Church of St. Maria Maggiore, the Chapel of Mary of Constantinople and the Sanctuary of Santa Felicita, in the homonymous locality.[3]

Mefitis

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The archaeological site of Ansanto Valley (Valle d'Ansanto), better known as "Mefite", is a sulphurous lake valley,[4] few kilometres from the towns of Villamaina and Torella dei Lombardi. It was named after the ancient Italic goddess Mefitis, venerated by the people of Hirpini, and counts some ruins of a sanctuary of the 7th century BC. The little lake is formed by a pool of water, about 2 metres (7 ft) deep, that boils as a result of the gas emissions of the subsoil, consisting primarily of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid. Because of this poisonous emissions, the surrounding area is free of animals and vegetation.[5][6][7]

References

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  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ (in Italian) All demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat): 2011 population statistics
  3. ^ (in Italian) Rocca San Felice and its sights (irpinia.info)
  4. ^ Coordinates of the "Mefite": 40°58′28″N 15°08′45″E / 40.97438°N 15.14573°E / 40.97438; 15.14573
  5. ^ (in Italian) Mefite of Rocca San Felice (irpinia.info)
  6. ^ (in Italian) Ansanto Valley and the Mefitis (Villamaina municipal website)
  7. ^ (in Italian) Mefite at roccasanfelice.net
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