Description

This is a monastic church built in the 11^th century by the Normans, originally consecrated to Santa Maria Veterana. The building had undergone a series of transformations over time, which have dramatically altered the initial Romanesque style. Now besides the church, you can see the cloister, the bell tower and the convent of the Benedictine nuns. The last one was built in the 17^th century.

On the architrave of the church three hunting scenes are depicted: here three Norman knights pierce some dragons. In addition, the men’s fight is related to the victory of the Lord on the dragon, metaphor of the devil.

Inside the church there are six columns topped by Corinthian capitals and in one of them it is noticeable the representation of four types of animals which embody the evangelists’ figure.

In the presbyterial area, there is a niche with some frescoes which represent the crucifixion and the Annunciation: scenes that remind the crucial moments of the story of Christ’s salvation, incarnation and death.

Next to that, you can admire some statues, among which St. Mary of the Snows and St. Benedict of Nursia.

Curiosities

Benedict is represented with a raven at his feet: the story goes that a raven, eating at the saint’s hands, saved him from poisoned bread sent by a jealous priest.

120 original letters that an abbess of convent wrote to the Duke of Poggiardo are stored in the church: here, she described the nuns’ lives in the monastery, place of learning and emancipation for them.

As a result of some archaeological excavations in St. Benedict’s complex basins, columns and skeletons of Roman period have been found.

What to find in the area

Church of S. Anna

Bakery “La casa di lu piscuettu”

Temple of St. John at the Sepulchre

Church of St. Mary of the Angels

Chiesa degli Angeli

Where to take photos

Cloister

Architrave