Sarsina, Umbria

Located in the Apennine foothills of Umbria along the banks of the Sapis river (modern Savio) sat the ancient settlement of Sarsina. Also called Sasina in antiquity, the modern town of just a few thousand retains the ancient name. Prior to Roman hegemony, the settlement was located in the territory of the Sarsinates, who seem…

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Julia Augusta Taurinorum, Transpadana

The Roman settlement of Julia Augusta Taurinorum, which gave rise to the modern Northern Italian city of Turino (Turin), seems to have begun life as a settlement of the Celto-Ligurian Taurini peoples, perhaps called Taurasia. The location of the settlement at the foot of the Cottian Alps and the confluence of the Padus/Eridanus and Duria…

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Brixia, Venetia – Part II

Just to the south of the Capitolium are a few areas to visit Roman remains. The first is right across the street at Via Agostino Gallo 6, at the tourist information office housed at the Palazzo Martinengo Cesaresco Novarino. Housed in the basement and accessible via the tourist office are some remains associated with the…

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Brixia, Venetia – Part I

The modern town of Brescia is situated in Northern Italy at the foot of the Alps, between Lake Iseo and Lake Garda (Lacus Sebinus and Lacus Benacus in antiquity, respectively) and along the Mella River (seemingly retaining it’s ancient name). In the Roman period, the settlement was called Brixia, seeming to derive from the Celtic…

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Ariminum, Aemelia

History Located at the mouth of the present-day Marecchia River (the Ariminus in antiquity) is the Italian Adriatic seaside resort town of Rimini, successor of the Roman settlement of Ariminum. The area seems to have been under the control of the Etruscans until about the 6th century BCE, when the Etruscans were dislodged from the…

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Paestum, Lucania – Part II

Continued From Paestum – Part I Southern Sanctuary Heading toward the southernmost part of the city and the southern sanctuary are the other two major temples of Paestum. The northern most of these two temples is the Temple of Hera II, or the Second Temple of Hera. Built between 460 BCE and 440 BCE, the…

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Paestum, Lucania – Part I

Today located in the fertile region of modern Campania (but was in antiquity part of the region of Lucania), the city of Paestum was founded by Greek colonists as Poseidonia sometime in the middle to late 7th century BCE. Strabo claims that the colonists were Achaean settlers from Sybaris, a Greek colony on the toe…

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Turris Libysonis, Sardinia

History Today, Porto Torres is one of the most important ports on the island of Sardinia. In antiquity, the city’s Roman predecessor, Turris Libysonis (alternatively Turris Libyssonis or Turris Libisonis), held a similar status on the island. Despite the name seeming to suggest some connection with North Africa, Turris Libysonis appears to be a settlement…

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Pisae, Etruria

Most Recent Visit: June 2011 Quick Info: Address: Museo dell’Opera del Duomo Piazza del Duomo, 23 56126 Pisa PI Hours: 8:00-20:00 (April-September) 9:00-19:00 (October) 10:00-17:00 (November-February) 9:00-18:00 (March) Admission: 5 Euro Currently closed for renovation (2017) Even in antiquity, the ancient precursor to Pisa was considered an “old” city. While that was agreed upon by…

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Antium, Latium

Most Recent Visit: August 2015 Quick Info: Address: Museo Civico Archaeologico Via di Villa Adele, 2 00042 Anzio RM Villa Imperiale Neroniana Viale Fanciulla D’Anzio, 20 0042 Anzio RM Hours: 10:30-12:30, 16:00-18:00 (15:00-19:00 in July and August) Closed on Monday, Wednesday, Friday Admission: Free Located about 50 kilometers south/southeast of Rome, Antium is located at…

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