Il Parco Archeologico di San Leucio

About

Complex archaelogical site to east south of the city, whose rests are witness of two important historical moments. The hill was select for the building of the most imposing italic temple in southern Italy, devoted to the goddess Minerva - Atena Ilias, with the probable purpose to enact ideologically and politically the alliance among the native "princes" and the Romans in the 318 a.C. The pagan temple, used for the whole Roman epoch, was destoyed during the V sec.AD, probably to work of the bishop Rufino, to give life to the extraordinary basilica to central plant - the greatest Palaeochristian building of Apulia - devoted to the SS. Cosma and Damiano and only subsequently to S. Leucio. Among the elements survisors of the temple there is the Corinthian capital with femalepropome (Giunone?), the drums of numerous grooved columns, the feet of a gigantictelamone. Elegant columns surmonted by wonderfull ionic, polychrome capitals as the splendid one "mosaic of the peacock", characterize the Christian building.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes