The Archaeological Area of Minturnae (Comprensorio Archeologico di Minturnae) is a little-known but impressive archaeological site along the Appian Way. It is located in the town of Minturno in southern Lazio, about 160 kilometres south of Rome and 75 kilometres north of Naples.

Coordinates: 41° 14′ 31.7″ N, 13° 46′ 5.38″ E

Minturnae was originally an Auruncian city (of which no archaeological traces have been found). It was one of the three towns of the Aurunci, which allied themselves with the Samnites and made war against Rome in 314 BC. After being defeated by Rome, the city suffered severe repression and was burned to the ground. The Romans settled in the area and built a castrum along the river Liris after realising the strategic and commercial importance of its close location to the sea. The military settlement grew into a Roman colony in 296 BC and became an important trading port of the Mediterranean and a fortified commercial centre along the Appian Way.

In the 1st century BC, Minturnae was a flourishing city with a Capitolium (temple dedicated to the triad of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva), a forum and a theatre. During the Imperial era, a new forum was built, surrounded by public buildings such as a Basilica, thermal baths, an amphitheatre and a macellum (market).

Today, significant Roman remains are scattered on both sides of the Appian Way.

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The Republican forum and the Roman theatre, built in the late Republican ear or at the beginning of the Empire, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy — The Republican forum and the Roman theatre were built in the Late Republican era or at the beginning of the Empire.

The Roman theatre, built in the late Republican era or at the beginning of the Empire, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy — The Roman theatre was built in the Late Republican era or at the beginning of the Empire.

The podium of the Temple of Augustus, built at the beginning of the Imperial age right alongside the Capitolium, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy — The podium of the Temple of Augustus was built at the beginning of the Imperial age right alongside the Capitolium.

The ruins of the Capitolium (temple dedicated to the triad Jupiter, Juno and Minerva), an Etrusco-Italic type temple built ca. 191 BC, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy — The ruins of the Capitolium (temple dedicated to the triad Jupiter, Juno and Minerva), an Etrusco-Italic type temple built ca. 191 BC.

The reconstructed monumental colonnade along the Appian Way with the macellum behind, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy — The reconstructed monumental colonnade along the Appian Way with the macellum behind.

The macellum (market) and the tabernae dating to the Hadrianic period (117-138), Minturnae, Minturno, Italy — The macellum (market) and the tabernae dating to the Hadrianic period (117-138 AD).

Black & white mosaic in the caldarium of the thermae depicting cupids pressing grapes, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy — Black & white mosaic in the caldarium of the thermae depicting cupids pressing grapes.

The tepidarium, the warm bathroom of the baths complex heated by a hypocaust (underfloor heating system), Minturnae, Minturno, Italy — The tepidarium, the warm bathroom of the baths complex heated by a hypocaust (underfloor heating system).

The ruins of the Hadrianic Basilica of the Imperial forum, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy — The ruins of the Hadrianic Basilica of the Imperial forum.

Aqueduct near Minturnae, built between the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire, Minturno, Italy — Aqueduct near Minturnae, built between the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire.

Links:

Wikipedia

May 4, 2016December 10, 2022 by followinghadrian Categories: ItalyTags: Appian Way, Italy, Lazio, Minturnae, Minturno, Roman Town, Via Appia 2 Comments

2 thoughts on “Minturnae”

Hello,
Nice photography. I lived in Gaeta (20 minutes north of Minturno) when I was a kid as my father was in the Navy. I had been looking for this amphitheater online for quite some time thinking it was closer to Naples. Our class did a Greek play here and I was the ‘Sun’. Stood on the ‘stage’ and said my lines to parents in the seats that seemed so far away I had to talk at the top of my lungs. That was a very memorable experience. Pompeii as well. We when in the winter and almost no one was there. It felt like the spirits of the people that had lived there were still there walking in the streets.

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Thanks for visiting us. Unlucky in Italy there are so many things that you’ll find many of those hiddens gems. Just 5Km south of Minturnae there is an ancient roman’s villa with a wonderfull mosaic called “San Limato”. And not to mention the other big roman’s teather of Sessa Aurunca just 10km away. And also lets talk about the under-sea city of Sinuessa 15km away? 🙂

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2 thoughts on “Minturnae”

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