PARCO ARCHEOLOGICO DI GRUMENTUM

The archaeological site is located on a plateau about one kilometre long, to the right of the Sciaura River and on the shores of Lake Pietra di Pertusillo. The ruins of the ancient Roman colony of Grumentum can be found here, which followed a very simple urban plan, with three main streets (decumani) interspersed with perpendicular side streets. The town was surrounded by a 3 km long wall with six gates. At the entrance to the site, the remains of the aqueduct can be seen. Of the city, only three main buildings remain: the first is the theatre dating from the time of Augustus with, behind the stage, the two imperial temples and a Roman house, the patrician domus called "house of the Mosaics". The second gathers the ancient forum with, to the north, the capitolium and, to the south, the caesareum or temple of Caesar. The civil basilica is recognizable by its semicircular apse. Nearby are the ruins of the Roman baths. Finally, the last body of buildings is formed by the ruins of the amphitheatre, 80 m long and 60 m wide, dating from the 1st century BC and modified in medieval times. The archaeological site has provided abundant material illustrating the life of the city and its importance at a regional level. While most of the material is on display in the museum, it is worth noting that a bronze armour discovered in 1820, and called the "Bronze of Siris", has been in the British Museum in London since 1833.