Roselle - sito archeologico

Awesome discoveries by Luca Passaacqua and his team at Siena University.

Well laid out. Good explanatory boards. Fascinating mix of Etruscan and Roman history.

Small but amazing place. Not known as pompei but well kept and out of mail stream and not crowded

Discovering the archeological site of the Roselle was very interesting to visit LA DOMUS DEGLI AUGUSTALI In front of the southwest corner of the Forum statues a building that was probably a Temple destined to worship the Julio-Claudia dynasty attended by the Flaminio Augustales, a sacerdotal order. The rectangular hall was originally provided with five noches positioned at rectangular intervals. The structures were built with the technique of Opus Reticulatum and were decoreted by polychrome plaster and by marble slabs secured by bronze clamps. The excavation of the building, allowed the finding of many statues in particular one of a male wearing armour ( in front of the building it is possible to see a copy of the statue) there are also two seated statues that may represent the Emperor Claudius and his grandmother Livia , portrayed respectively as Jove and Juno ( preserved in Grosseto, Museo Archeologico). Livia was deified by Claudius in 43 A.D. Other sculptures have also been identified, such as the ones representing Druso Maior, Antonia Minor, Germanicus and Livilla. Near the statue of Claudius there are two offering bases that refers to a distinguished citizen from Roselle: AULUS VICIRIUS PROCULUS, member of the powerfull VICIRII Family, that in the colony of Roselle supported politics in Rome, and the decisions taken by the imperial dynasty. In the southern side of the Forum lies what was one a secred area, delimited by a fence, partially porticoed, that holds a small temple on the short western side. In the temple are still preserved the foundation of the cells, the access stairs on the front and farther along, the diets row of the elevations blocks formed by limestone parallelepipeds joined by lead clams. The Temple is a low Podium type with, at the side of the stairs, two smooth pillars on the front. The altar, of which God the Temple DIVUS AUGUSTUS was worshipped, Augustus the emperor who was deified father his dead. The structure can be dated back to the Claudian period, and therefore can be linked to the works pertainig to the extension of the Forum that took place during CLAUDIUS REIGN (. 41-54 A.D) to a later period can be date child’s grave (6th-7th century A.D) made with spolia-material such as little stones and fragments of bricks.

A wonderful trip! Everyone enjoyed it very much because the layout of the city was clearly visible from the hilltops and the amphitheater was almost entirely intact! The signs are also translated in english and the walk has a splendid view: one can see the sea. It's a cheap and interesting cultural site!

Closed on Thursday. In future, after sept 9th it may be opened in Thursday again. Better call if you want to visit this place on Thursday

Here you can discover a lot of great archaeological findings of the Etruscans period. A whole village is waiting for you up on the hill.

If you are interested in historical and archeological sites, you will find this original Etruscan then Roman settlement ruins well worth it. I always love to look for the worn wagon wheel ruts in the stone roads and streets.