Here, time seems almost to have stopped in the eleventh century. The church of San Benedetto, little known and still open to worship, is one of the most beautiful expressions of the essentiality that distinguishes Norman art. It is announced by a massive Romanesque bell tower with three-light windows and small arches, which stands out on the Via Marconi, and is accessed from the left side, with blind-arches, through a gate of the eleventh century, with a beautiful frame carved in weaves which is so reminiscent of wicker objects. Focus on the superb bas-relief of the architrave: the hunting scene represented is of fine workmanship and symbolizes the struggle between good and evil, shown here in the hunters that pierce two lions and a winged dragon. Inside, a cross-vault, three naves, a succession of small domes, small columns, rich Romanesque capitals, and a Madonna with Child, a sculpture in red local stone with decorations in gold and blue. But the best is yet to come: from the sacristy, through a small door, you access a delightful square cloister, belonging to the former adjoining monastery, surrounded by a portico with windows, Greek marble columns, and capitals on which are lions, rams, oxen, and floral decorations. In particular, cast your eyes on what remains of the frescoes: there is an Annunciation with the Virgin who, at the time of the announcement, appears unusually intent to sew with the needle between her fingers, and not spinning, as is usually the case.
