Rocca dei Rettori
Planted on the highest point of Benevento's historic centre, the Rocca dei Rettori is a fortress that has been Samnite rampart, Roman bathhouse, Lombard stronghold, Benedictine monastery, and papal governor's palace in turn — and from its terrace the confluence of the Calore and Sabato rivers unrolls below you like a painted map.
Two Thousand Years on One Hill
Archaeological excavations during the 1998 restoration revealed that this hilltop has been occupied since at least the 7th–6th century BC, with a Samnite necropolis beneath the foundations. The Lombards raised the eastern wall; in 771 Duke Arechi II united a Benedictine monastery to a fortified palace; and in 1321 Pope John XXII had the whole complex restored as a residence for his papal rectors — hence the name 'Rocca dei Rettori'.
The two main bodies — the Lombard Torrione tower, built from 871 on Roman foundations, and the 14th-century Palazzo dei Governatori — give the building its distinctive silhouette. Today the Rocca houses the historical section of the Museo del Sannio and the offices of the Province of Benevento.
The View Every Visitor Misses
Most visitors photograph the Arch of Trajan and move on, never climbing to the Rocca. That is their loss: the terrace commands a sweeping panorama over the valleys of the Calore and Sabato rivers, the green Sannio hills, and the red-tiled rooftops of the old town spreading below.
Early morning is the best time to visit — the light is soft, the air is cool, and you will almost certainly have the terrace to yourself. In clear conditions the hills of Irpinia are visible to the east.
Rocca dei Rettori on video
More of Benevento
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Benevento →
