Church of St. Benedetto Abbot

It seems that this was one of the first churches built on the orders of Matilda of Tuscany, in 1082, who then gave it to the Benedictines; but they do not know if there was also any adjoining  monastery. The building underwent several renovations during the centuries, which were well understood in 1980-83: the Romanesque layout had three naves, an apse and a transept.
The church still hosts important paintings, such as a Nativity by Gianfranco Tura – which bears sign of relationships with Mantegna's and Ferrara schools - , a Madonna and Child with St. Benedict and St. John the Evangelist by Giulio Romano's school, and a Holy Family with St. Anthony of Padua and St. Sebastian again by Giulio Romano's school.
Still, you may see a canvas by Lorenzo Costa the Younger (1560) depicting the Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist and a martyr - in the right nave -, and a late XV century polychrome wooden crucifix – in the left nave. The Blessed Virgin of Ghiara – whose basilica is in Reggio Emilia -, depicted on the scagliola frontal (XVII century) of Our Lady of the Rosary altar, reminds that Gonzaga was a part of Reggio Emila diocese until XIX century.
The church hosts also several XVIII century canvases, among which an elegant painting by Giovanni Cadioli (1748) depicting three saints. Finally, you may see a XVI century tabernacle near the transept, and a XVI century stoup beside the entrance.