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Parco Archeologico di Siponto

Manfredonia

The Museum

The Archaeological Park of Siponto is of special importance as evidence of the high position achieved by ancient Siponto during the Roman period, after the colony was founded in 194 BC.

The History

Parco Archeoloico di Siponto

An Archaeological Park of special importance as evidence of the high position achieved by ancient Siponto during the Roman period (colony founded in 194 BC), when it became one of the main ports of Regio II and then the seat of one of the most important dioceses in the region.
After the port turned into a marsh and two devastating earthquakes in 1223 and 1255, Siponto was abandoned and its residents moved to the new city founded by the son of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, King Manfred (second half of the 13th century), which was called Manfredonia and later, under Angevin rule, Sypontum Novellum.

The Building

Parco Archeologico di Siponto - Basilica medievale

Parco Archeologico di Siponto - Basilica medievale

The remains of the early-Christian, three-nave basilica with a central apse and mosaic floor stand as a reminder that Siponto was the seat of one of the most important dioceses in the region. Fine mosaic floors dating to the time when the early-Christian basilica was built (4th century AD) and its renovation in the subsequent century are preserved inside the medieval basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
The medieval basilica, built between the end of the 11th and beginning of the 12th century, is one of the cornerstones of Romanesque architecture in Puglia. It has the shape of a cube topped by a small central dome and a crypt that is entered from outside. Between the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th century, it was subject to major renovations. Materials from ancient Siponto (columns, capitals) were reused for its construction and decoration. The archivolt of the fine portal is supported by two columns resting on the back of a lion.

The heritage

Since 2016, the Archaeological Park of Siponto has hosted Dove l’arte ricostruisce il tempo (Where Art Reconstructs Time), an innovative installation by a young artist from Lombardy, Edoardo Tresoldi. Made out of metal mesh, its forms evoke the the early-Christian basilica’s final building phase.
Composed of 4,500 metres of arc-welded galvanised mesh, the metal basilica is 14 metres high and weighs around seven metric tons. The bold decision to bring archaeology and contemporary art into dialogue is expressive of an overall vision that sees landscape as a site of temporal complexity combining evidence of the past and present reality.
In 2016, the Archaeological Park of Siponto received the highest number of votes in the fourth edition of the Riccardo Francovich Prize, awarded by the Society for Italian Medievalist Archaeologists (Società degli Archeologi Medievisti Italiani, SAMI) to the Italian museum or archaeological park that has achieved the most successful synthesis of rigorous scientific content and its effective communication to a non-specialist public.

  • Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

    Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

    Frontal view of the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Siponto (11th–13th century)

  • Cripta

    Cripta

    Interior of the crypt of the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Siponto

  • "Dove l'arte ricostruisce il tempo"

    "Dove l'arte ricostruisce il tempo"

    Detail of the work by contemporary artist Edoardo Tresoldi.

Address

Viale Giuseppe Di Vittorio, s.n.c.
71043 Manfredonia

Ownership

Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities

Tipology

Archaeological Park

Info

Director: Francesco Longobardi
drm-pug.parcosiponto@beniculturali.it

More info

Info

Opening hours:

Monday: closed
Tueseday: closed
Wednesday: 12.30 – 21.30
Thursday: 12.30 – 21.30
Friday: 12.30 – 21.30
Saturday: 12.30 – 21.30
Sunday: 12.30 – 21.30

Other info:
Visit guidelines:


Reservation: through the app IoPrenoto (https://ioprenotoapp.com/). Entry also possible without reservation based on availability in the time slots indicated.

With reference to DL July 23, 2021 n. 105 and circular n. 40 of July 27, 2021 of the General Secretariat and the indications of the Ministry of Health, in order to cope with the epidemiological emergency from Covid19, the following provisions for countries belonging to the lists A and C ( lists are downloadable from the website www.viaggiaresicuri.it of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation): access is allowed only to persons holding one of the Covid19 Green Pass certifications (in digital or paper format) able to attest – together with a valid identity document -: that they have received at least one dose of one of the vaccines authorized by the EMA or AIFA (Comirnaty by Pfizer-BioNtech, Vaxzevria by Astrazeneca, Janssen by Johnson & Johnson and Moderna) or have tested negative to a molecular or rapid swab in the last 48 hours or have recovered from Covid19 in the previous six months. COVID-19 Green Certification is not required for children excluded by age from the vaccination campaign (under 12 years of age) and those exempt on the basis of appropriate medical certification. With reference to people coming from the countries of Israel, Canada, Japan and the United States, it should be noted that in relation to vaccination certificates issued by the health authorities of these countries, in accordance with the provisions of EU Recommendation no. 2021/912 of 20 May 2021, they must include at least the following data: Identifying data of the person; Data regarding the type of vaccine and date(s) of administration. Please note that certificates must be accepted if they are in Italian, English, French or Spanish. If the certificate is not issued in bilingual form and not in one of the four languages indicated in the Order of the Minister of Health of 18 June 2021, it must be accompanied by a sworn translation. This documentation must be presented at the entrance when the body temperature is checked PLEASE NOTE: If you do not have a Green Pass and a valid identity document, you will not be able to access the Parco area sites and your ticket will not be refunded. For further information www.dgc.gov.it

Address

Viale Giuseppe Di Vittorio, s.n.c.
71043 Manfredonia

How to get here

The Archaeological Park of Siponto is located a few kilometres south of Manfredonia, along Viale Giuseppe Di Vittorio. Manfredonia can be reached by the Foggia train station via regional trains. The city is linked to others in the Gargano region by buses run by SITA of Bari and the Saps Bus Line. Arriving by car, take the Foggia exit on the A14 motorway and continue along the state road Garganica SS89 until Manfredonia. The closest airport is the Karol Wojtyla airport in Bari

Contacts

drm-pug.parcosiponto@beniculturali.it

Full ticket

Free

Booking

Optional

Animals

Animals are permitted if on a leash and wearing a muzzle.