Museo e Parco archeologico Archeoderi

About the museum

The museum and archaeological park lie in the San Pasquale valley, in the contrada (rural locality) Deri in Bova Marina, on the site where the remains of a late antique building came to light in the 1980s. First interpreted as a Roman villa, the building was recognized as a synagogue thanks to the floor mosaic of the prayer hall, decorated with symbols of Jewish tradition: the menorah, the shofar, the etrog (citron), the lulav (palm branch) and Solomon’s knot.

The synagogue was in use between the 4th and 6th centuries AD and is the only architectural evidence of a Jewish presence in Calabria for this period. It is considered the oldest in the West after that of Ostia Antica. The park opened in June 2010, and its name recalls the place name of the locality.

The route includes the excavation area with the synagogue and the museum, which displays finds from the territory: among them a hoard of 3,079 bronze coins kept in a jug of the 4th–5th centuries AD, and a milestone dating to AD 364–367, which documents the existence of a coastal road link.

Highlights

• 4th-century AD synagogue, among the oldest in the West
• Polychrome floor mosaic with menorah, shofar, citron and palm
• Hoard of 3,079 bronze coins in a late antique jug
• Milestone of AD 364–367 with a double imperial inscription

Operated by

Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Calabria

Admission & discounts

Prices according to the Ministry of Culture listing (updated May 2025); on special opening days the guided tour may be included in the entrance ticket.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit