Nusco

The balcony of Irpinia, they call it. As it is among the highest in the area, it offers extensive views. Situated on a narrow ridge that acts as a watershed between the Ofanto and Calore valleys, it retains much of its mediaeval appearance, with streets paved in limestone. The settlement probably developed around a fortress, of which few ruins remain. The Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Amato, in the central square, preserves a 17th-century wooden pulpit by local craftsmen, an 8th-century gilded wooden bishop's chair, various 19th-century paintings and a ceiling frescoed with biblical scenes; the crypt has Romanesque origins, with sturdy columns supporting cross vaults. The bell tower dates back to the 16th century. From the cathedral comes the portal of the Church of St. Anthony, at the northern entrance to the town. A recent structure to the south, houses the Biodiversity Observatory, set up by the municipality, the park and the Terminio-Cervialto Mountain Community, aimed at protecting the environment and studying the animal and plant species that live in the Picentini Mountains Regional Park.