Parco archeologico di Serra di Vaglio

About the museum

The Serra di Vaglio site lies at about 1,100 metres above sea level, on a plateau overlooking the Basento valley, between the Greek colony of Metaponto, the interior and the Tyrrhenian centres of southern Campania. Already frequented in the Final Bronze Age, the area was permanently occupied from the second half of the 8th century BC by a settlement of huts with associated necropolises.

From the 6th century BC, under Greek influence from the Ionian coast, the huts gave way to masonry buildings with tile roofs. A rectangular building in the locality of Braida is linked to the “frieze of the horsemen”, terracotta slabs with warriors and grooms; nearby, burials with grave goods have been found, two of which are defined as “princely”. In the 5th century BC the settlement was reorganised with paved roads and houses of two or three rooms, including the “house of the pithoi”, rebuilt in the 1990s using ancient techniques as the first example of experimental archaeology in southern Italy.

Between the late 5th and the 4th century BC, in the Lucanian phase, the settlement was defended by a double-curtain city wall. The centre was destroyed around the middle of the 3rd century BC during the clash between the Lucanians and Rome. Since December 2014 the site has been managed by the State, now by the Regional Directorate of the National Museums of Basilicata.

Highlights

• “House of the pithoi” rebuilt using ancient techniques
• Oval hut of the 8th century BC beneath the house
• Lucanian double-curtain walls with quarry marks in Greek letters
• Building of Braida and the “frieze of the horsemen”
• “Princely” burials with rich grave goods

Permanent exhibition

• Abitato indigeno e lucano – Remains of the settlement, houses, the Braida building, the necropolis and defensive walls, with the rebuilt “house of the pithoi”.

Operated by

Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Basilicata (Ministero della Cultura)

Visitors per year

approx. 1,500

Admission & discounts

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Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The site is in the locality of Serra di Vaglio, in the municipality of Vaglio Basilicata (Potenza), at about 1,100 m above sea level.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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