BeneventoIIIE

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Classes: III D III E

How to get to Benevento!!!: 

How to get to Benevento!!!

General features: 

General features Benevento, a city of Campania, is the capital of its district and is situated on the hill Guardia, between the rivers Sabato and Calore, in the middle of a circle of mountains. It was founded by the Samnite people.

History: 

History Beneventum was the capital of of the Samnite people with the name of Maleventum. When it was conquered by the Romans in III and IV centuries B.C. Its name changed into Beneventum. The city was destroyed and then rebuilt under the Longobard power (571 A.D.)The last Longobard prince, Landolpho was won by the Normans and died in 1077. Benevento remained subjected to the Pope for more than eight centuries and was governed by the Rectors sent by the Pontifical State.

The Sannitic Population: 

The Sannitic Population The geographical position of the province of Benevento has made Sannio, the centre of many war-like events that have interested the south of Italy. The Longobards, the Bizantines, the Sannitics and many others, have all left their marks on Benevento and on the Sannio area. The legend tells that Benevento was founded by Diomede who landed on the costs of Puglia after the destruction of Troia. But it is more likely that Benevento was founded by the Oscis, and then inhabited by the Sannites.

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Benevento became historically important when the Sannitic warriors defeated the roman soldiers in the battle called “forche caudine” (caudin forks is a metaphor which means: bitter humiliation). The story says that general Ponzio Telesino captured two roman legions and subjugated them by making them pass under a bridge made with three lances so that the enemy defeat could be watched by everyone and the won could be humiliated.

General features: 

General features In spite of the earthquake of 1688 and the bombings of the II world war, Benevento has preserved its middle ages historical centre with remarkable monuments of great historical and artistic value. The Arch of Trajanus, the Theatre of II century, the Leproso bridge, the Cathedral, the Castle or Rectors, Santa Sofia’s (VIII cent.) where you can find the Museum of Sannio, and San Bartolomeo’s, a church designed by Raguzzini which belongs to the XVII century.

General features: 

General features The local economy is based on industry; besides the traditional productions of nougat, chocolate, biscuits and Strega liquor,other important sectors have developed; the beer and wood industries. The Province, which includes 78 towns in a mainly mountain territory, is particularly devoted to agriculture. The productions are: cereals, olives, potatoes, grapes, tobacco. There are also many raisings of calves and sheep.

The Longobards: 

The Longobards The Longobards were a German population that dominated the Italian peninsula from half the VIII century, and deeply influenced the Italian political establishment and the local culture in the following centuries. Benevento was among the most important Longobard dukedoms, with Turin, Spoleto, Vercelli and Ivrea.

Leproso bridge: 

Leproso bridge The river Sabato flows under its four arches. The name Sabato comes from Sabba, that is the typical dance of the witches. The Leproso Bridge, in Benevento, led to Brindisi and to Eastern countries through via Appia. This important Roma monument was restored by Appio Claudio, L. Settimio Severo and M. Aurelio Antonino. It was called “Leproso” (which means “affected by leper”) during Middle Ages while first it was called “Marble Bridge”.

Calore Bridge: 

Calore Bridge During the last five years the amount of water has considerably diminished and, with this, also the fear of river floods among Benevento inhabitants The Calore Bridge joins viale Principe di Napoli with some important Benevento monuments: Santa Sofia’s, the Arch of Traianus and the Cathedral. It is very old and was destroyed by bombings during the II world war and then rebuilt in the sixties.

Benevento witches: 

Benevento witches The legend of the witches dancing around a nut-tree comes from the Longobards, in fact it was the warriors who first did the dance. Saint Barbato helped by Teodorata, wife to the Longobard duke, in 664 converted to Christendom the new owners of Benevento and ordered to cut down the tree and also forbid to venerate the golden viper. But the legend says that from the roots of the tree another snake was born and the old tree started to grow again...

The Roman theatre: 

The Roman theatre The Roman Theatre is situated in the heart of Benevento historical centre not far from Port’Arsa. Its construction started under the emperor Adrian and finished at the end of the second century: it has a 90 mt diameter and three orders of arcades but the upper orders are missing. In a good state are the stage, which has been recently restored, the cavea and the first order of arcades.

Santa Sofia’s: 

Santa Sofia’s The church was completed by Arechi II, duke of Benevento, and was inaugurated in 762 A.D. in order to keep the relics of the protecting saints of the Longobard people. The church plant is half circular and half star-shaped; it has two concentric corridors, created by pillars and columns, that form a central hexagon and an external decagon.

Santa Sofia’s: 

The corridors hold up the vault creating suggestive effects of light and shades. The perimeter of the church of Saint Sofia, delimits a a circumference that has a diameter of meters 23,50. Inside the church there are visible visible traces of the original frescos of the VIII and IX sec. On the left one the history of S. Giovanni Battista, with the angel that announces the next birth represented of his child and Saint Zaccaria, is represented. In the fresco on the right is the Annunciation to Maria and the Visit of Saint Elizabeth to the Virgo. Santa Sofia’s

The Arch of Trajanus: 

The Arch of Trajanus The arch of the Trajanus was erected to celebrate the extension of the Appia street in the stretch between Benevento and Brindisi, and it was dedicated to the Emperor Trajanus 114 A.D. It is among the best preserved monuments of the Roman age, and is mt 15,60 toll and mt 8,60 wide. It is decorated with admirable bas-reliefs that celebrate the achievements of the Trajanus age.

The Castle of the Rectors: 

The Castle of the Rectors A beautiful old town situated in Campania.The castle of Rector is one of the loveliest castles in the country.It was first built in the ninth century. Is situated in Piazza 4th November.Today it is favorite with visitors for its beautiful parks and garden.

Hortus conclusus: 

Hortus conclusus The garden is a permanent open-air exhibition of Mimmo Paladino’s works. The statues contrast harmonically with Roman remains which witness the ancient and complex culture of Benevento and Sannio region.

Padre Pio from Pietrelcina: 

Padre Pio from Pietrelcina Pietrelcina is the perfect place if you want to spend a day far away from the noise and chaos of the city ,and be at place with yourself and your own soul. Pietrelcina is a little village on the Sannio hills. It is about 12 km from Benevento which is the capital of the province. The origins of Pietrelcina are very remote, but this isn’t the main reason why it is different from many other little towns in the province.

Padre Pio: 

Padre Pio Pietrelcina is a blessed town, and it was made such by Padre Pio, the most famous of its children. Padre Pio was born and many pilgrims come and visit the places where he grew up. In Pietrelcina every stone seems to talk about the saint, every breath of wind seems to carry his fragrance because this monk has left an indelible trace on whatever he saw, touched and loved.

A metropolitan legend: 

A metropolitan legend This story happened ten years ago: one day two boys saw a beautiful girl in the street and went to her. She didn’t speak and they couldn’t see her eyes because she kept her head bent. They went to “Pizzeria romana” and the boys offered her a meal. The girl was very slim but, in spite of that, she ate 15 chickens and 20 hamburgers!! Class III E: Giovanni Pirozzi

A metropolitan legend: 

A metropolitan legend Finally the girl asked the boys to give her a lift to Ponticelli, the district of Benevento which is near the cemetery. They remained in the car and watched her entering a door. Soon after she went out again heading for the cemetery. After a while a lightening hit her, she rose in the air and then disappeared. The morning after the cemetery guardian found the boys in the car frozen by fear! I hope you will believe this story because, even if it sounds absurd IT IS TRUE!!!l Class III E: Giovanni Pirozzi