The church was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1688 and another in 1702 , which collapsed the original dome and some later medieval additions . Cardinal Orsini , the future Pope Benedict XIII , had the church rebuilt in Baroque style . The restoration work , started in 1705 , transformed the plan from a stellar to a circular one , added two side chapels , and changed the appearance of the apse , of the façade and of the pillars . Further , the frescoes which decorated the interior were mostly destroyed : today only a few fragments , depicting the '' Stories of Christ and Mary '' , remain . In 1957 most of the original appearance was restored , basing on evidence from historical documentation , with the exception of the Baroque façade
earthquake in 1688
1688 Sannio earthquake
Santa Sofia, Benevento