Day 01
Benevento Historic Center, Roman Monuments, and Santa Sofia
- The guided tour of Benevento is a delightful discovery of a town full of treasures from different eras, in perfect harmony with nature and with the legends about witches that have always characterized this place. It is no coincidence that its most famous liqueur is Strega.
- We begin at the Roman Theater, which we will visit from the outside. It was commissioned by Emperor Hadrian and rediscovered only in the mid-1900s. From here, we move to the archaeological area of the Roman Forum, walking among the remains of the thermal complex and admiring the Arch of the Sacrament, also from the Roman era.
- Nearby, we visit the Cathedral dedicated to S. Maria de Episcopio, where Padre Pio became a priest. It features a white marble facade, a bell tower rebuilt after the bombings of the Second World War, a crypt with ancient paintings, and a main bronze door.
- We continue the tour along Corso Garibaldi, the main street of Benevento, lined with historic buildings such as Palazzo Paolo V, commissioned by the Pope in the 16th century, until we reach the majestic Arch of Trajan. This Roman arch, covered in marble, was built to celebrate the opening of the Trajan Road from Benevento to Brindisi and is adorned with beautiful decorations and bas-reliefs typical of Roman art.
- In the historic center, we visit the Church of Santa Sofia, included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This small jewel of the Lombard era has a very original interior structure with a star-shaped plan, unusual columns, and precious 16th- and 17th-century paintings. A monastery is also attached to the church, with a beautiful cloister that now houses part of the Sannio Museum.
- A few steps away, we enter the magic of the Hortus Conclusus, a garden of the former Convent of S. Domenico, where you can admire some of Campania's most distinctive artistic installations, created by the artist Mimmo Paladino between past and present, nature and man.
- Another attraction of the town is the Rectors' Fortress, also called the Castle, with its corner tower from the Lombard period adjacent to the medieval Palace of the Papal Governors. Commissioned in the 1300s by Pope John XXII, it is today the seat of the Province of Benevento.
- We end the guided tour with a walk in the beautiful municipal park, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view over the whole valley.
