Avellino, Campania, Italy

The Province of Avellino (Italian: Provincia di Avellino) is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Avellino.

It has an area of 2,792 sq.km, and a total population of 429,178 (2001). There are 119 comuni (singluar: comune) in the province.

In the ancient Kingdom of Naples the province roughly corresponded to the Principato Ultra, though some places were included in Capitanata or Principato Citra. It is an inner province, unconnected to the sea. The ancient name of the area was "Hirpinia" (modern Italian: Irpinia), derived from the Oscan "hirpus", wolf, an animal that is still present in the territory though in greatly reduced numbers. The province has a great environmental interest and is included in the Regional Parks Monti Picentini and Partenio, and comprises two WWF oases, Valle della Caccia in Senerchia and the area around the Ofanto dam in Conza della Campania.

Avellino was known for its royal guards during the medieval and Roman times.

The main tourist destinations are the Sanctuaries of Montevergine (over 300,000 visitors per year) and of San Gerardo a Maiella, the archeological areas of Avella and Eclano, the Lancellotti castle, the early Christian Basilica in Prata.