Candida, Campania

Candida
—  Comune  —
Comune di Candida
Candida Location of Candida in Italy
Coordinates: 40°57′N 14°53′E
Country	Italy
Region	Campania
Province	Avellino (AV)
Area
• Total	5.43 km2 (2.1 sq mi)
Elevation	579 m (1,900 ft)
Population (December 31, 2004)
• Total	1,129
• Density	207.9/km2 (538.5/sq mi)
Demonym	Candidesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	83040
Dialing code	0825
Patron saint	St. Philip Neri
Saint day	May 26
Website	Official website

Candida is a small town and comune (municipality) in the province of Avellino within the Campania region of Italy. It sits on top of a hill, at an altitude of 579 metres and has around 1100 inhabitants. It is located at 10 km from Avellino.

The economy is mostly relying on agriculture.

History

The first human settlements in the territory date back to the Roman times. Many ruins have been found in the localities of Cesine, Vigna, Selvetelle, Scandravoli, Giardino, Ponticelli, Gaudi, Toppa S. Andrea. The name of the town derives from the Latin "locus candidus" which means clear, shining place.

The first historical mention of the town appeared in 1045 when Candida was included, under the Lombard domination, in the Avellino county. From that time many feudal lords followed one another. The Filangieri family owned the fiefdom from 1187 with Alduino de Candida, until 1420 when Caterina Filangieri de Candida gave the fiefdom of Candida as a dowry to Sergianni Caracciolo. Then the fiefdom passed to the De Cardona, Magnacervo, Grimaldi, Saulli families back to the Caracciolos that kept it until the abolition of the feudal system.

Main sights

• Church of SS. Trinità (monastery of Sant'Agostino), originally in Gothic style. It was rebuilt in Renaissance style after 1550.
• Monastery and church of Montevergine, built in the 15th century.
• Collegiata Church (1540).
• Remains of the Lombard castle