Conza della Campania, Italy: travel guide to ancient Compsa and its archaeological park

Conza della Campania is a small town in the province of Avellino, in the Upper Irpinia region of Campania, set at around 440 metres near the source of the river Ofanto. Home to about 1,300 people, the modern town stands just below the hill where ancient Compsa once rose, a place where a great tragedy gave way to an extraordinary archaeological rediscovery.

For travellers searching for Conza della Campania, ancient Compsa, the Compsa archaeological park or Lake Conza, it offers deep history and tranquil nature off the beaten track.

From Compsa to the archaeological park

Compsa was an ancient city of the Hirpini, a Samnite people, and was occupied by Hannibal in 216 BC after the Roman defeat at Cannae; it later became a Roman town with a forum and temple. On 23 November 1980 the old hilltop town of Conza was destroyed by the devastating Irpinia earthquake, and the decision was taken to rebuild the town lower down. The excavation of the ruined old centre brought ancient Compsa back to light, and today the Compsa Archaeological Park preserves the Roman forum, the remains of public buildings and the shell of the old cathedral.

Lake Conza and nature

Below the town, the artificial Lake Conza, created on the Ofanto in the 1970s, has become a rich wetland protected as a WWF Oasis and a noted stopover for migratory birds. The surrounding hills, farmed for cereals, vines and olives, make the area a quiet destination for lovers of history and wildlife.

Practical information

Conza della Campania lies about 68 kilometres east of Avellino, in Upper Irpinia near the borders with Basilicata and Puglia, best reached by car through the valley of the Ofanto.