MUSEO NAZIONALE - PARCO ARCHEOLOGICO DI EGNAZIA
Go there and contact
Museum located in a typical Apulian landscape, between the olive trees and the Adriatic Sea
Situated in a typical Apulian landscape, between olive groves and the Adriatic Sea, the archaeological area of Egnazia offers an impressive sight. Celebrated by Horace, mentioned by Strabo and by Pliny, the site of ancient Gnathia has restored the remains of various periods: a Bronze Age village, a Messapian centre and its tombs decorated with paintings, a Roman urban settlement, the remains of early Christian basilicas and a medieval fortification. Strategically located between the territory of the Peucetians and Messapians, Gnathia was an important port along the Via Traiana that connected Rome to the port of Brindisi. The ancient Roman road, paved with cobblestones, crosses the site transversally and separates the acropolis and the public buildings on the sea side from the residential area and the craftsmen's quarter. It is on the acropolis that the oldest traces of occupation were discovered (15th century BC), as well as the remains of a Messapian temple and a Roman sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Venus (2nd century AD). The public buildings characteristic of a Roman city are clearly identifiable: the forum covered with tufa paving stones, the civil basilica, and the amphitheatre.
The National Museum displays various objects and documents testifying to the rich history of the city. Among the remains are the bas-relief of a Messapian funeral procession, the marble head of Attis, Messapian and Apulian ceramics, and the mosaic of the "Tre Grazie".
Book the Best Activities with Get Your Guide
Members' reviews on MUSEO NAZIONALE - PARCO ARCHEOLOGICO DI EGNAZIA
