Caposele

The municipality of Caposele (Avellino), below Materdomini, lies at the source of the River Sele, on the slopes of Monte Paflagone, within the Monti Picentini Park, at an altitude of 405 metres; it has around 3,400 inhabitants. Its name reflects the defining natural feature of the place, bound up with water since time immemorial: 'Caput Sylaris', the 'head' or 'beginning' of the River Sele. It is from the springs in Piazza Sanità that the river rises, flowing into the Tyrrhenian Sea near Paestum.

Not to be missed are the extraordinary Sele Springs, a true underground river channelled into a tunnel built by hand in stone and brick in the early 20th century. Together with the springs of Cassano Irpino, they supply water to much of southern Italy: almost 10 million people across Campania, Basilicata and Puglia. The aqueduct is an impressive feat of hydraulic engineering that carries the spring water by gravity all the way to the far south-eastern tip of Italy, at Santa Maria di Leuca (Lecce), in the Salento. In the historic centre, highlights include the Church of San Lorenzo Martire (designed by Gigliotti and Portoghesi), the Church of Santa Maria della Sanità with its separate, freestanding bell tower, and the Museum of Leonardo's Machines. Outdoor activities include the 'Sentiero delle 7 Fontane' (Trail of the Seven Fountains), the Ciclovia dell'Acqua cycle route, which follows the course of the Apulian Aqueduct, and the Sele River Park. Next to the rock-cut church of San Vito (4 km from Caposele) is an interesting rock face used for climbing. Finally, the trail 'Le pietre della memoria' (Stones of Memory) is well worth following: 15 stones placed at symbolic sites, each with a QR code linking to video testimonies of what happened to people and places on 23 November 1980, the day of the devastating earthquake that struck the area.

Since 2024 Caposele has held the Touring Club Italiano's 'Bandiera Arancione' (Orange Flag) certification.