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Archaeological site · Rocca San Felice (AV)

Valle d'Ansanto Archaeological Area

  • Visit: about 1 h 30 min
  • 715 m
Valle d'Ansanto Archaeological Area
Photo: Turismo Campano · Illustrazione

The Mefite, a bubbling gas pool mentioned by Virgil, ancient sanctuary of the goddess Mefitis in the territory of Rocca San Felice.

In the Valle d'Ansanto, at Rocca San Felice, lies one of Irpinia's most evocative places: the Mefite, a small pool that bubbles with emissions of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. The ancient Irpini worshipped the goddess Mefitis here, and around the 7th century BC a sanctuary grew up, from which come amphorae, terracottas and the altar now at Capodimonte.The ground around is almost bare of vegetation, and the gases, lethal to birds, suggested an entrance to the Underworld, as Virgil recalls in the Aeneid. We advise observing the phenomenon only from the permitted viewpoints and not approaching the pool: the gas concentrations are truly dangerous, especially when there is no wind.

We are asking the authority for permission to publish photos of this place. Why there is an illustration

On the map

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