National Landscape Day: Free visits to Rhodea Archaeological Park

Tuesday, March 14, 4-6 p.m., with free guided tour program (information and reservations 3491186667-3495907685, mail [email protected]), the Archaeological Park of Rudiae in Lecce is committed to the National Landscape Day, established by the Ministry of Culture with the aim of raising citizens’ awareness of issues related to the landscape, through activities throughout the national territory. Rudiae, a city founded by Messapi, known above all as the birthplace of the father of Latin literature Quinto Ennio (239-169 BC), one of the most important archaeological sites of Salento, which can now be used thanks to a public-private partnership for the promotion and promotion stipulated between the Supervisory Authority for Archeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of the Provinces of Brindisi and Lecce and the sub-ArVa srl ​​- Unisalento, also on the basis of prior agreement between the Supervisory Authority and the Municipality of Lecce.

Archaeological excavations, begun in the second half of the nineteenth century thanks to Duke Sigismondo of Castromediano under the direction of Luigi de Simone, have brought to light necropolis areas, underground tombs hewn in the rock, parts of the Messabian fortifications, as well as stretches of cobblestone roads and places of worship and public buildings from Roman times. In the center of the settlement is the Roman amphitheater, which was built during the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD) and was recently unveiled. Lecce boasts two Roman amphitheaters only a few kilometers apart: the Teatro Loppia in Piazza Sant’Oronzo, in the heart of the city, and the Teatro of Ancient Rodia, in the countryside outside Salento’s capital on the road to San Pietro in Lama. During the visits, the figure of Otacilia Secondella will also be remembered, a young Roman woman who lived two thousand years ago and who, thanks to her charitable work, donated her economy precisely for the construction of the amphitheater.

Rudiae Archaeological Park is located about 3 kilometers southwest of Lecce. The entrance to the park, which has an indoor car park in the Fondo Acciatura area, is in Via A. Mazzotta (40°19’55.6″N 18°08’46.3″E), opposite Iiss Presta Columella. For a visit (which lasts about an hour) it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes, a head covering and water.