Acerno is a large village located 40 km north-east of the provincial capital of Salerno at 727 metres above sea level[3] in the valley of the Tusciano,[4] a river which rises on the slopes of Monte Polveracchio.

The neighbouring municipalities are Giffoni Valle Piana, Montecorvino Rovella, Calabritto, Senerchia, Montella, Bagnoli Irpino and Olevano sul Tusciano.

[5] It is rich in flora, however, with forests of maple, oak, chestnut, hazel, beech and alder, while the fauna includes golden eagles, dormice, wild cats, otters and wolves.

In 1298 it fell under the ownership of Roger of Lauria and was later owned by William Vaccaro (1337), Roberto Grillo (1346), Francesco Guindazzo (1381) and Antonio de Muro (1445).

In 1619 he loaned the lands under Royal Assent and after a series of owners, including Pompeo Colonna,[4] in 1665 the estate fell into the hands of Antonio Tocco.

[7] During World War II, the Anglo-American air forces bombed Acerno, the first time in September, 1943, destroying part of the bishop's palace, the church of S. Maria degli Angeli as well as numerous blocks.

[4] On 16 September 1943 five German soldiers invaded the garden of Canon Carmine Sansone, and while they were busy gathering the fruit from the trees, were killed with precision fire from a rifle by the priest.

7 August is the feast day of the patron saint: Donatus, Bishop of Arezzo, who was martyred (according to the Martyrologium Hieronymianum) in 362 by Quadratian, a prefect of the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate.