What to see in Aversa, an itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including the Duomo, Chiesa San Biagio, Chiesa Santa Maria in Piazza and Chiesa San Francesco.
Tourist information
Placed in the center of a flat area known as agro aversano, Aversa has very ancient origins, as evidenced by the name "Sanctum Paulum ad Averze", given to a village in honor of San Paolo who chose it as a stop while heading to Pozzuoli.
During the period of Norman domination, Aversa became a very important center, thanks to the considerable impulse that it knew from an economic and cultural point of view.
Rainulfo Drengot, the first Norman count, in the eleventh century surrounded the city with imposing walls, the remains of which can still be seen today.
Following the Normans, the Aragonese took over, of whose era the Aragonese Castle remains, built by Alfonso I of Aragon.
The Lemitone district, located in the south-eastern part of the old city, whose construction dates back to the Spanish domination in the sixteenth century, is characterized by a square urban structure, while the historic center of Aversa appears as a maze of narrow streets alternating with large squares , including the one where the cathedral is located.
What see
The Cathedral of Aversa, which was built over a previous Lombard church, has a Latin cross interior divided into three naves, where some valuable works are preserved, including the painting depicting St. Bartholomew who receives the banner of the Holy Sepulcher from the Madonna , work by Francesco Solimena of 1701, and a Catalan style wooden Crucifix dating back to 1250.
In the rear area of the high altar, it is possible to admire the original Norman architecture, with 7 spans covered by cross vaults with ribs and valuable capitals with carved figures, as well as multiple remains of Romanesque sculptures, including a bas-relief depicting San Giorgio and the dragon, a 9th-century barbaric work of art.
The church of San Biagio with its Benedictine monastery, dating back to 1050, deserves to be visited.
The convent complex includes the old cloister, in Baroque style, which includes the remains of Romanesque forms, in addition to the small cloister, the Rectory and the Foresteria.
In the church of San Biagio, with a single nave interior, it is possible to admire a remarkable majolica floor from the 1700s, a work created by the Neapolitan school of Giustiniani, as well as the Pentecost table, attributed to Marco Pino da Siena, and the Assumption altarpiece di Maria, work by Andrea Vaccaro.
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The oldest church in Aversa is that of Santa Maria a Piazza, which has an interior divided into three naves, in which the frescoes on the walls stand out, valuable works capable of witnessing three different pictorial cycles, including the fresco of the Crucifixion with on either side the Virgin and Archangel Michael killing the dragon.
Of particular interest is also the church of San Francesco, which contains many valuable works of art, including the Adoration of the Shepherds, painted by Pietro da Cortona in 1650, the canvas with Christ deposed, attributed to Paolo de Majo and dating to 1700, Pentecost, probable work of 1754 by Francesco Mura, and the painting that has as subject San Francesco in Gloria, by the painter Jusepe de Ribera.
As for gastronomy, Aversa is famous for its typical products, including buffalo mozzarella and asprino wine.
