One of the best kept Roman arches in the world, which pays tribute in every single millimeter of its extraordinary marble bas-relief, to the military exploits and to the munificence of the emperor Trajan, creator between 108 and 110 of the Appia Traiana, a more comfortable alternative to the Appia Antica to reach Brindisi, passing through the flat Apulia and the coast.
And the arch was built in 114, on the occasion of the opening of the new main road, which made Benevento even more central in the communications network of the Adriatic side with Rome. Almost of sixteen meters high, and more than eight meters wide, with a single archway, on each façade it shows four semi-columns at the corners of the pillars supporting the entablature. Above, there is an attic with a barrel-vaulted room, built in limestone rocks covered by opus quadratum of Parian marble. On the façade facing the city, the sculptures remember the theme of peace, while on the side facing the countryside war and the provisions given by the emperor are celebrated. Trajan is represented welcomed by the Capitoline Triad and at the Foro Boarium. The frieze on the entablature illustrates the victorious expedition against the Dacians. Other panels are dedicated to the allegories of the imperial power. On the internal sides of the arch, sculpted panels represent, on the left, the sacrifice for the inauguration of Via Traiana and, on the right, the establishment by the sovereign of food for Benevento children. On the coffered vault, the image the emperor appears crowned by a Victory.
When he built the city walls as a protection for the city, in the 6th century, Arechi incorporated the Roman arch as a city gate, called Port’Aurea. Pope Pio IX launched the works to give to the monument its original appearance, starting by tearing down the elevation to the attic. Escaped to the bombs of 1943 thanks to a protection up to the top with sandbags, the arch was restored and brought back to its original splendor, as we can admire it today. In the nearby Lombard deconsecrated church of Sant’Ilario, the “Racconti dell’Arco” museum (The Tales of the Arch) is open to the public.
