An Accessible Village

A village that chose to be accessible

An Accessible Village is no ordinary event. In Monteverde, a town of just over seven hundred inhabitants perched at 740 meters in the eastern reaches of the province of Avellino—where Campania meets Puglia and Basilicata—the event began in 2006 as a «meeting of diverse abilities.» Since then, it has accompanied a journey that has transformed the face of the town every summer. This is not just a symbolic day; it is a public moment where an entire community checks in with its guests to see how much progress has been made on the ground of inclusion.

From an idea to European recognition

Over the years, Monteverde has progressively eliminated architectural barriers in its historic center and created approximately five kilometers of tactile-plantar paths for blind and visually impaired people, accompanied by tactile maps, audio guides, and thousands of sensors that interact with smartphones and electronic canes. Three itineraries—naturalistic, religious, and tourist—cross the village and its surroundings. One of these leads to the Ducal Castle, which chronicles describe as one of the very few castles navigable independently by blind and deaf visitors. In 2019, in Brussels, the European Commission awarded Monteverde a mention in the Access City Award: the small Irpinian village thus became a European reference point for accessible tourism, after joining the network of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.

What to expect during the week

The event's formula blends the atmosphere of a conference with that of a village festival. During the days of An Accessible Village, the program traditionally includes:

• Meetings and testimonies with people with disabilities who have achieved significant sporting, professional, or artistic results, based on the idea that disability can be viewed as a capacity and a resource;
• Moments of discussion between administrators, associations, tourism operators, and families on the theme of barrier-free hospitality;
• Accessible guided tours along the tactile paths, through the stone historic center, and up to the castle ramparts, with panoramic views over the Ofanto valley and Lake San Pietro;
• Outdoor activities and workshops designed for mixed groups, where accessibility is not a reserved service but the normal condition for participation;
• Convivial evenings in the village squares, with Irpinian cuisine and local products acting as a bridge between residents and guests.

Monteverde, the village and its territory

The name comes from the Latin Mons Viridis (Green Mountain), perfectly describing a landscape of woods and fields sloping down toward the San Pietro reservoir. The historic center is a maze of cobblestone alleys and stone houses climbing toward the Lombard-origin castle, which was later remodeled in the Norman and Aragonese eras and now hosts exhibitions and cultural events. Next to the castle, one can visit the church of Santa Maria di Nazareth and the interactive museum dedicated to wheat, a testament to an ancient agricultural vocation. On the table, you will find caciocavallo cheese, handmade pasta, cured meats, and craft beer produced with locally grown barley: products that become an integral part of the hospitality during the event week.

Why it's worth the trip

Those arriving in Monteverde for An Accessible Village will not find a mere showcase, but a social laboratory that has been in progress for twenty years. It is the perfect opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful villages in inland Campania with the certainty that motor, visual, or hearing difficulties will not exclude anyone from the program. It is also a chance to see firsthand how a town of a few hundred inhabitants has transformed accessibility into a strategy for development, repopulation, and identity. The 2026 edition is part of the official calendar of the Irpinian Pro Loco of UNPLI Avellino, running from July 27 to August 2.