The weekend was absolutely glorious with blue skies and cool, but not cold, temperatures. So, on Sunday, like Saturday, we decided to go roaming. First we hit the market in Trivento. Markets are always fun, full of interesting people and things to buy. The one in Trivento is held every Sunday and well-attended. (In other words, we had a hard time finding a parking place.)

Then it was off to the next stop, and one that was right up my alley considering my interest in ancient buildings and peoples. We headed up the mountain to Schiavi d’Abruzzo to see the Italic Temples.

There we were met by our guide, one of the young people who work at the local historic sites. She was very friendly and informative. In fact, the information that I’m passing on to you is condensed from what she told us and the information posted throughout the site.

The Italic Temples

Discovered in 1937 and excavated more thoroughly during the 70s, the Italic Temples at Schiavi d’Abruzzo date back to the 2nd Century BC. During that time, a terrazzo with surrounding wall was built, in the center of which rose the tempio maggiore. At the beginning of the 1st Century BC, the tempio minore and altar were added.

During the medieval era a church and burial area was built upon the partially buried site It remained occupied up until the 14th Century and the site was later buried under a landslide.

Located at 864 meters (2835 feet) above sea level, overlooking the Trigno River, the view from the site is breathtaking. The town of Schiavi d’Abruzzo sits higher up on the hill at 1170m (3838 ft).

The Italic Temples are so-called because they were built by one of the ancient Italic peoples - those people who were in Italy before the Roman domination. The people in this particular area were the Sanniti or Samnites. One of these days I’ll dedicate a post to the ancient peoples in the area.

Il tempio maggiore

This temple, dating from the first half of the 2nd Century BC, is located in the center of the terrazzo. The terrazzo was surrounded by a wall, located downhill from the structure.

The temple, which had a south-east orientation, was built upon a podium measuring 21m x 11m x 1.8m (in feet, 69×36x6) . It was built without mortar using enormous stone blocks covered in limestone slabs.

Today this temple is in ruins and the remains of the pillars and capitals can be seen lying around the site.

Temple

fallen pillar

overturned capital

Il tempio minore

At the beginning of the 1st Century BC, the tempio minore was built with the same southeast orientation but of smaller dimensions (7.4m x 13.3m or 24ft x 44 ft). Today we can see the reconstruction which was done in 1974.

View of Tempio Minore from Tempio Maggiore

Tempio Minore

In front of the tempio minore an altar was located. This altar was discovered between 1994 and 1995.

Altar

This site held great religious significance. For 5 centuries (from the 1st century BC until the 4th century AC), the structure was carefully conserved, having been reconstructed and repaved many times.

The wall and medieval tower

Unfortunately, not much can be seen of these structures.

The original wall which surrounded the ancient holy site is considered to have been built around the end of the 3rd Century BC and the beginning of the 2nd Century BC.

The wall was about 37 meters (121 feet) long and over 3 meters (10 feet) high.

In 1995 a square structure (5m x 5m or 16ft x 16ft) was surprisingly uncovered. This structure was determined to be a medieval tower in use perhaps up to the 14th Century and then covered by a landslide that buried the entire area. (This same landslide also covered the two temples.)

Wall and tower

Personally, I think the site could use some more attention and definitely more publicity. I often say that if the various historical, natural, and religious sites that could be found in this area were better known, people would be clamoring to come visit. The entire region of Abruzzo is beautiful and full of interesting things. The Vastese alone (this area where I live) is chock-full of historical and natural wonders, not to mention the ones across the river in the Molise. I’ve got a list of sites to visit that’s so long, I sometimes don’t know where to start. But, little by little, on weekends and free days, I’ll get to see them.

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