the church of san benedetto
The Chiesa di San Benedetto is a monastic church, built in the 11th century by the Normans and originally consecrated to Santa Maria Veterana. Besides the church there's a cloister, a bell tower and the convent of the Benedictine nuns.
monastic church built by the normans
The monumental Chiesa di San Benedetto is a monastic church. It was originally consecrated to Santa Maria Veterana and built in the 11th century by the Normans . This church was subject to a series of transformations over time, which have dramatically altered the initial Romanesque style of the building.
norman hunting scenes and frescoes
On the architrave of the church you can see 3 hunting scenes. Its about 3 Norman knights piercing some dragons. The men’s fight is related to the victory of the Lord on the dragon, dragon being metaphor of the devil. Inside the church you can observe 6 columns topped by amazing Corinthian capitals. In one of them you can see the representation of 4 types of animals which embody the evangelists’ figure.
The presbyterial area holds a niche with frescoes representing the Crucifixion and the Annunciation, scenes that describe 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.
In the frescoes Benedict is represented with at his feet a raven. The legend tells that this raven, eating from the saint’s hands, saved him from some 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 as well: describing the nuns’ lives in the monastery. Furthermore, as a result of some archaeological excavations in St. Benedict’s complex basins, columns and skeletons of the Roman period have been found.
cloister, bell tower and convent
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 17th century.
how to get there
The church of San Benedetto is located in the heart of the historic city center and is best accessible on foot during a Brindisi City Walk. The church is publicly accessible. Opening times: Thursday to Saturday : 9 AM - 1 PM and 4:30 PM to 7 PM , Wednesday: 4:30 PM to 7 PM, Monday: 9 AM - 7 PM, Sunday: 8 AM - 1 PM.
Times are not fixed however. They may vary depending the season and on holidays.