[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 20:26:06 11/10/10
EXPLORATION AND PHOTOGRAPHYDon’t let anybody kid you…field photography and archaeology exploration are great endeavors but they can bring risks and perils. As usual I didn’t know this site beforehand so couldn’t expect to deal with treacherously steep, slippery slopes of loose damp soil heavily encrusted with sharp stone construction blocks and jagged fragments. The shoot was a spur of the moment decision on my way back to Avellino from Nola. Believe me, it pays to be properly equipped and do some advance research. I found out the hard way this time.Abella (or Avella), an ancient Greek town in Campania situated near Nola, was founded by the Chalcidian Greeks. The castle at Avella itself is located on the outskirts of the town. Not having any information on how to reach the castle or whether there would be any access to its grounds I went for it anyway. One interesting feature that caught my eye, although it’s not large in comparison to many other Italian castles, is that the top of the hill leaves little flat surface for construction so much of it stretches down the steep slopes of the hill.While some refer to it as a Roman castle, the town recognizes it as Norman. It was reportedly built by the Lombards in the 7th century, then strengthened successively by the Normans, Anjou and Aragonese, with no mention of Roman origins.
