Sant'Ilario Church

Benevento, Italy

Sant'Ilario church was documented first time in the 12th-century, but excavations date part of the structure to 7th or 8th century. It is called Sant'Ilario a Port'Aurea, as it is built near the Arch of Trajan. The rectangular layout was erected on an artificial embankment. In late antiquity, the entire complex was abandoned. The church is composed of an apsed hall. The cover of the outside is formed by two separate tiburi. A monastery was once attached to the church. Devastated by the earthquake of 1688, in 1712 it was deconsecrated and used as a farmhouse.

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Founded: 7th century AD
Category: Religious sites in Italy

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Legends l (3 months ago)
This site is or can be part of a combination ticket that would get you into other museums. The historical site still has some ruins. There are two presentations one audio and one video explaining the story behind the birth of the Arch. Worthy visit.
Romà Jiménez (4 months ago)
Disused Longobard church, inside they project a video of Trajan's arch. Very friendly staff.
Simone Cesarano (8 months ago)
A pleasant surprise was the visit to this archaeological complex, both for the beauty of the site, where inside there is a video projection of the history of the site and that of Trajan's arch. The entrance ticket costs only €2 but it is possible to purchase the circuit of museums (there are 5 in total) in Benevento for the price of €6, I recommend this formula.
Andrea Chiariello (3 years ago)
The multimedia museum of Sant'Ilario accurately describes the story of the emperor Trajan, admirably sculpted in the marble of the nearby Arch of Trajan. Making use of modern technologies, a film is projected which evocatively describes all the episodes depicted on the monument with particular attention to the small frieze that develops along the four sides of the Arch. The frieze is illustrated through virtual reality, it gives a personal interpretation of the monument, it is the arch itself that speaks and explains the symbols, it engages in a sort of commentary of the facts narrated on the arch. The opposing panels of the monument dedicated to Trajan are illustrated. The purpose of the film is to allow the visitor to see to better understand the entire descriptive apparatus of the Arch, rightly defined as "a book of stone", with reference to the history of Benevento and with insights for a greater understanding of the Roman world. The archaeological excavation conducted in the church of San Ilario highlighted that the church was built in the Lombard era, resting on three sides on wall structures belonging to a building of the imperial age. The monumentality of the identified environments led to a variant of the original project which envisaged a classic layout with panels and showcases. To leave the ancient structures visible, a walkway was built, which crosses the church from the main door to the apse, onto which a door dating back to the Middle Ages opens. As a result, the type of setup in which the story of Trajan is told, described by his sculptor with the projection of a film based on the development of the architectural reliefs, has been modified. To allow the projection of the film, a double iron track suspended from the ceiling with steel cables was built above the walkway, on which 5 projectors were positioned. One of these, placed in front of the entrance door, projects the images, on a screen positioned in the apse, of three characters including Trajan, who alternate describing what is projected by the other four projectors on the opposite side walls. Before the screening, at the entrance to the church the visitor is welcomed by an operator who briefly explains the history of the church and the archaeological structures highlighted
Giuseppe Tecce (6 years ago)
An excellently maintained historic place. The welcome is always excellent. Worth seeing is the film on the history of Trajan's arch, inside the church of Sant'Ilario. Contact the info point to ask for more information.
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