Lizzano in Belvedere - San Mamante

The parish church is dedicated to San Mamante a popular saint in the Byzantine empire. The church seen here was erected in 1931 in a Neo-Byzantine style. It was erected over remains of a much older church, that may be dated back in pro-Lombard times. The area belonged to the Exarchate of Ravenna, what means it was under Byzantine (East Roman) control. In 751 the Exarchat was conquered by Lombard King Aistulf, who transfered Lizzano in 753 to the Nonantola Abbey, just founded a year before by Saint Anselm, Duke of Friuli and Aistulf´s brother-in-law.

At that time a (byzantine) church may have existed here already, though there are no traces of an older structure in this church - but behind the building.