Benevento: Museums, Roman History and Regional Culture

Rivers, Fortress and Cityscape

Benevento lies at the confluence of the Sabato and Calore rivers. In this landscape, the Rocca dei Rettori rises above the valley where the Sabato flows into the Calore. The complex consists of two interconnected buildings: one medieval and one Renaissance building. Today, the Rocca serves as an exhibition and museum venue for permanent exhibitions, including the “Uomini eccellenti” section and the paintings by Virginia Tomescu Scrocco, as well as temporary exhibitions.

Museums Spanning Broad Periods

The Museo del Sannio is the most important museum in the province of Benevento and is among the most significant museums in Campania. It preserves more than 50,000 artefacts dating from prehistory to the present day. The collection includes evidence from the Samnite and Roman periods, the Lombard period, and from the 15th to the 19th century. It also features works by important Italian artists of the 20th century. In this way, a single institution brings together an unusually broad succession of periods and forms of artistic expression.

The Museo del Sannio also includes an extensive library with an adjoining reading room, as well as a conference hall named after the scholar Giovanni Vergineo. The Museo Arcos houses the Egyptian section of the Museo del Sannio, with finds from the Temple of Isis dedicated to Benevento, as well as a contemporary art section.

The Geobiolab uses virtual reality, scenographic reconstructions, “talking” machines, 3D films, photographs, exhibits and experimental laboratories to explain the secrets of nature. Due to extraordinary maintenance work, the Geobiolab is currently temporarily closed. The MUSA – Museo della tecnica e del lavoro in agricoltura is an exhibition of historic agricultural machinery as well as a multimedia educational laboratory.

Roman and Early Medieval Evidence

The Arco di Traiano was built between AD 114 and 117 at the beginning of the new Via Traiana to commemorate and honour the rule of Emperor Trajan. Its reliefs show scenes of peace on the side facing the city and military scenes on the opposite side. Those who view the arch can immediately distinguish the political imagery of the Roman monument on its two sides.

The Complesso Monumentale di Sant'Ilario a Port'Aurea includes the former church of S. Ilario, an early medieval building. The complex also includes the remains of a building complex from the Imperial period of the 2nd century AD. Free guided tours are available through the archaeological park and the former early medieval church.

Experience the City and Discover the Region

The Trenino dell'Arte currently offers a tour through Benevento's historic centre, with stops at the city's most important historical and artistic sights. For a different pace, the Ciclopedonale Benevento–Vitulano is available: it runs entirely along a protected route and is suitable for everyone. Benevento is also part of the Via Francigena nel Sud. Culture, cycling and pilgrimage traditions thus provide different ways of experiencing the city and its surroundings.

The region's culinary landscape is also part of the area's identity. The grape-growing area for the DOC “Falanghina del Sannio” covers the entire administrative territory of the province of Benevento. Winegrowing can therefore be regarded as a regional theme that extends beyond the city and can play a distinct role in planning the content of a stay alongside museums, architectural history and routes.

Practical Guidance for Cultural Visits

For planning museum visits, the Rete Museale provides information on admission prices, a combined ticket, reservations, and opening days and hours. This information concerns the cultural institutions and helps you incorporate the various museum sites and their offerings into your daily itinerary. Together with the currently closed Geobiolab and the Trenino dell'Arte currently on offer, this gives a differentiated picture of the available or restricted visiting options.

Other Places

Other places: Santa Croce Del Sannio, Moiano, Torrecuso, Telese, Benevento, San Bartolomeo In Galdo, San Giorgio Del Sannio, San Marco Dei Cavoti, Amorosi, Apollosa, San Nazzaro, San Martino Sannita, Montesarchio, San Salvatore Telesino, San Nicola Manfredi, Limatola, Bonea, Fragneto Monforte, Sant'angelo A Cupolo, Dugenta, Circello, Beltiglio-San Giovanni, Cusano Mutri, Buonalbergo, Castelpagano, Sant'agata Dé Goti, Signorindico, Solopaca, Apice Vecchio, Pietrelcina, Morcone, Melizzano, Campolattaro, Pesco Sannita, Pannarano, Forchia, Bucciano, Campoli del Monte Taburno, Paolisi, Castelvenere, Fontanavecchia, Luzzano, Paduli, Faicchio, Arpaise, Pino, Pontelandolfo, San Leucio del Sannio, San Lupo, Ponte, Cerreto Sannita, Baselice, Paupisi, Colle Sannita, San Lorenzello.

To the overarching travel overview: Campania.