Castronuovo di Sant’Andrea

Perched with impressive tenacity on the steep and shady back of the Fosso Manca, exactly in the lush “green triangle” of the lower valley of the Sinni river, Castronuovo di Sant’Andrea is a village with an archaic and vertical charm, which seems to be born and take shape in a completely natural and indissoluble way from the living limestone rock that courageously supports it.

The medieval heart of Castronuovo unfolds through an intimate, silent and profoundly fascinating labyrinth of ancient districts, impervious stairways, suggestive arched supports and modest peasant houses stubbornly and architecturally leaning against each other. These silent stones tell to those who know how to listen centuries of very slow rural life, millenary toil in a harsh territory and, at the same time, an unshakable and profound spiritual devotion. In fact, it was precisely within these narrow and evocative walls that Sant’Andrea Avellino, a charismatic key figure of the town, was historically born: his modest birthplace has now been devoutly transformed into an evocative chapel that attracts discreet but constant flows of pilgrims from all over southern Italy.

But the village is not limited only to jealously and rigorously preserving its historical, peasant and religious roots. In fact, Castronuovo represents – to the immense surprise of the visitor – an unexpected and very lively avant-garde cultural temple, hosting the innovative MIG (International Graphics Museum). This extraordinary and valuable institution contains, in the rough heart of a small Apennine village, excellent, rare and precious exhibitions of art and graphics of a global level, creating a wonderful “Lucanian miracle”: a magical and exciting fusion between rough rural stone, sincere archaic spirituality and a strongly international artistic breath, all closely embraced by the pristine silence of the Apennines.