Ruins of Gnazia > The ancient Messapian and Roman city

Archaeological park of Gnatia is one of the most significant site in the whole region of Apulia. It's on the beautiful coastline between Monopoli and Savelletri which contains evidence dating from the Bronze Age and Middle Ages.

Indice

History

Two main authors as Pliny and Orazio reported the city of Gnathia as a main trading center thanks to the port and Via Traiana.

The city has been inhabited since the XV century BC and then occupied in the Bronze Age by Iapyges came to Italian peninsulae from the Balkan region. In the VIII century BC it occurred the Messapian phase and finally the city was conquered by Romans.

Ruins of Gnatia

Once in the park you can stare at the monuments and houses dating both from Roman and Late Roman periods like the cyclopic defensive walls with a northern pillar of 20 feet. Just outside fortifications there's the Messapian necropolis with pit graves, semi-chamber and chamber tombs decorated with fine frescoes.

Running between ruins of the most important public buildings it's the ancient Via Traiana on which the wheel grooves left by carts are still visible. Typical Roman monuments were found here as well: the Forum, Amphitheater, Cryptoporticus and the Kiln. And finally a large Paleochristian complex with Basilica and Baptisterum.

From the top of a hill in front of the sea the acropolis looks all over the city. From here the visitor can stare at an amizing view!

The most of relics are collected in the Museum near the Messapian necropolis.