Church of Santa Sofia

The Church of Santa Sofia is one of the finest examples of Lombard architecture in Italy. It was built between 758 and 760 AD by Duke Arechi II, during the period when Benevento was the political and spiritual heart of Lombard rule in the South.
The layout is both unique and symbolic: an irregular hexagon, inspired by the Palatine Chapel in Aachen and the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, reflecting a deep connection between spirituality, power, and sacred geometry.
Inside, you’ll find 8th-century frescoes—rare survivors of Lombard art—and reused Roman capitals, blending antiquity with medieval vision.
Attached to the church is a Romanesque cloister, now home to the Museum of the Samnium, perfect for discovering more about the city’s past.
Since 2011, it’s part of the UNESCO serial site “Longobards in Italy – Places of Power”. It’s a place where silence, harmony, and mystery meet.