Chiesa di San Menna

The Church of San Menna in Sant'Agata de' Goti is an early Romanesque building known for its three-aisled plan and marble opus sectile floor.

Why it matters

San Menna is an important early example of Romanesque architecture in southern Italy. Its floor, presbytery and apses preserve a coherent medieval interior, while its foundation reflects the patronage of the Norman counts of Alife.

What to notice

The marble floor combines geometric panels of coloured stone and is among the notable early examples of opus sectile in the region. Three naves end in semicircular apses, and arcades rest on columns. An eighteenth-century Baroque atrium now screens the earlier facade.

Context and history

The church was founded by Roberto, count of Alife, and consecrated in the early twelfth century. The inscription associated with its consecration is read as 1110, while some accounts give 1100, so the exact year remains disputed. The church was altered and damaged over the centuries, including in the 1980 Irpinia earthquake; restoration of the left aisle roof followed in the early 1990s.