Benevento Historic Centre

Benevento is a city rich in both history and legends, such as the “janare” legend.

Walking along the streets of the Benevento historic centre you will reach true pieces of history that are the outcome of several dominions, especially Romans and Lombards.

Benevento is in the Appennino hinterland area of the Campania region. To reach it by car from the south of Italy, you have to drive along the A16 highway and take the exit signposted Benevento, then proceed towards Benevento est. From the north of Italy, whereas you have to drive along the A1 highway and take the exit signposted Caserta sud, then proceed along the SS7 state road towards Benevento.

From Napoli and Rome, you can take a regional train and get off at the Benevento train station.

In Napoli, Roma Tiburtina and Salerno there are several buses leaving that stop at Benevento.

Once you get to the Benevento train station, you can take one of the buses leaving from via Adua that stop at the Arco di Traiano (Arch of Trajan), a Roman arch perfectly preserved, symbol of the Samnite city. Not far from it, in via Carlo Torre, there is the Arco del Sacramento (Arch of the Sacrament) dating back to the post-Trajan period, a former entrance to the Court, that is part of the area archeologica del Sacramento (Sacrament archaeological area) that dates back to the Roman period.

Behind the Sacrament thermal baths, there is the Cattedrale metropolitana di Santa Maria de Episcopio (Santa Maria de Episcopio metropolitan Cathedral), also known as Duomo di Benevento (Benevento Cathedral), with its peculiar Romanesque-style facade made of white marble.

Behind the Cathedral there is the Palazzo Arcivescovile (Archiepiscopal Palace), the Museo diocesano (Diocesan Museum) and Piazza Orsini with its monumental fountain.

Moreover, in the Triggio district there also is the anfiteatro romano (Roman amphitheatre) dating back to the 2nd century, that leads to Port’Arsa, an ancient gate to the ancient area of Benevento, and to Torre della Catena (Chain Tower), that is part of the ruins of the Lombard city walls.

Back to Corso Garibaldi, you will reach the Egyptian obelisk belonging to the temple of Isis in Piazza Papiniano and, further on, the Basilica di San Bartolomeo (San Bartolomeo Cathedral).

The Chiesa di Santa Sofia (Santa Sofia Church) is in the piazza of the same name. This church is in the UNESCO World Heritage List and represents one of the most important examples of Lombard architecture. The beautiful cloister of the church houses the Museo del Sannio (Sannio Museum), that keeps the history of Benevento together with the different dominions.

In front of Santa Sofia there is the Museo Arcos, that houses the finds of the Benevento temple dedicated to the Egyptian Goddess Isis, and often hosts temporary contemporary art exhibitions.

From the museum, walk along Vicolo Noce to reach the Hortus Conclusus, a small green area that houses the works of art of the local artist Mimmo Paladino.

Keep walking and you will get to the Rocca dei Rettori (Chancellors Fortress), near the Municipal Villa, that is the castle of Benevento consisting of a Lombard great tower and Palazzo dei governatori pontifici (Pontifical Governors Palace). The garden of the fortress was enriched with architectural structures dating back to the Roman period.

Moreover, right at the beginning of the Benevento historic centre, near the Benevento Appia train station (via Ursus), there is the area archeologica Santi Quaranta (Santi Quaranta archaeological area) with the remains of a Roman cryptoporticus, that leads to the Ponte Leproso (Leproso Bridge) over the Sabato river, a small gem from the Roman period.