Description of the attraction
Sant Agata de Goti is a commune in the province of Benevento in the Italian region of Campania, located 35 km northeast of Naples and 25 km west of Benevento at the foot of Monte Taburno. The name of the town does not come from the Gothic period in the history of Italy (5-6th century), but from the Gascon family De Goth, which ruled here in the 14th century. Next to Sant'Agata de Goti is the ancient Samnite city of Satikula.
The most interesting sights of Sant'Agata de Goti are the local churches. For example, the cathedral was founded in the 10th century, but due to numerous renovations, it completely changed its appearance. Its Romanesque crypt is part of the earlier buildings, including the ancient Roman ones.
The Gothic Church of Annunziata was built in the 13th century on a site outside the city walls. Inside this one-nave church with side chapels, there are 15th century frescoes depicting the Last Judgment. Also noteworthy is the diptych depicting the Annunciation of the same period by the Neapolitan artist Angiolillo Arcuccio.
The church of Sant'Angelo in Munculanis dates back to the Lombard era and is a basilica-shaped structure with three naves. The apse of the church was once large, but was shortened. The main entrance, facing south, is preceded by a pronaos crowned with massive columns on which a bell tower rises. In the course of recent restoration work, some medieval elements have been brought to light, as well as a crypt with burials.
The Temple of San Mennato was built in the 12th century and dedicated to a 6th century hermit who lived on Mount Taburno. In this church, you can see the floor covered with mosaics in the Cosmatesco style, the oldest in southern Italy.
Finally, the Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli stands next to the monastery of Delle Suore Redentoriste. It was built in the 18th century on the ruins of the old chapel of San Bartolomeo de Ferraris.
A non-religious landmark of Sant'Agata de Gauti is the castle, built by the Lombards and enlarged in the 11th century by the Normans. In the 19th century, its towers were "decapitated" and loggias were erected in their place. On the first floor of the castle, you can admire the cycle of frescoes by the artist Tommaso Giaquinto.
