Photo: ALC · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Area archeologica del Tempio Italico di Casalbore

Italic sanctuary from the 3rd century BC at Casalbore with a hexastyle temple, probably dedicated to the goddess Mefite; open to visitors by reservation.

Opening hours unknownFree admission

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About the museum

At Macchia Porcara, near a spring below the Pescasseroli–Candela drove road (tratturo, a transhumance track), the remains of a sanctuary from the 3rd century BC survive, perhaps used for the cult of the goddess Mefite. The temple, of Etruscan-Italic type, is one of the most important buildings of the ancient Samnite settlement in the area.

The temple is hexastyle, that is, with six columns on the façade, and has an almost square cella flanked by two open wings. In front of the building the remains of a portico have emerged; the access staircase was flanked by two basins with fountains fed by the nearby spring. The floors are in cocciopesto (crushed-brick mortar) with limestone tesserae, and the walls retain decoration in the First Pompeian Style. The votive deposits indicate that the sanctuary was linked to the cult of Mefite. The building was destroyed in 215 BC, during the Hannibalic Wars.

Highlights

Hexastyle temple of Etruscan-Italic type
Basins with fountains fed by a spring
Cocciopesto floors and walls in First Pompeian Style
Votive deposits linked to the cult of Mefite

Permanent exhibition

Area archeologica del tempio italico – Visit to the remains of the temple, portico, basins and floors of the sanctuary.

Operated by: Comune di Casalbore
Visitors per year: approx. 1,749