Holiday Apartment in Francavilla Marittima: Archaeology and Local History

A holiday apartment in Francavilla Marittima takes you to a place where archaeology, landscape and local history each have their own distinctive character. The Archaeological Park of Timpone della Motta and Macchiabate lies on the first hillsides bordering the Sibari plain, at the foot of the Massiccio del Dolcedorme in the Pollino range. This combines views of historical traces with a striking landscape.

Archaeology on Timpone della Motta

The oldest settlement traces on Timpone della Motta date back to the Middle Bronze Age. During the colonial period, a sanctuary with a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena stood on the summit of the hill. This sanctuary was one of the most important places of worship in the Chora of Sybaris. Some scholars consider Timpone della Motta a possible location of ancient Lagaria.

Landscape between hills, plain and river

The Raganello riverbed lies south of Timpone della Motta. The river crosses the plain and eventually flows into the Ionian Sea. The elevated position of the ancient settlement provided a vantage point for controlling the area and the transport routes. The spatial relationship between hill, plain and river gives the archaeological visit a clear landscape setting.

Macchiabate and the early periods

The Carnevale stream separates the Macchiabate necropolis from the settlement; the necropolis is clearly visible from the settlement. The burials date from the Early Iron Age to the end of the 7th and the beginning of the 6th century BC. The Cerchio Reale tomb group is an impressive collection of burials from the oldest phase of the necropolis.

A bronze tablet dated to the 6th century BC was found outside Building II. It bears a dedication to the goddess Athena by the Olympian Kleombrotos. Tomb Strada 1 is dated to the 9th century BC. Access to the Antiquarium area is partially possible for people with reduced mobility.

Local history in the historic centre

The Museo Archeologico di Francavilla Marittima is located in the town’s historic centre, in the so-called Palazzo de Santis. The Fontana Vecchia was built in 1793. It has three outlets, whose water collects in three marble basins, and is protected by FAI, the Fondo Ambiente Italiano.

The Chiesa della Madonna degli Infermi was built in the first half of the 19th century as a private chapel over an earlier church erected by the Sanseverino family in the 16th century. The Cappella di Santa Lucia dates from 1881. The feast of the patron saint Lucia takes place on 12 and 13 December; in connection with this feast, “grano cotto” is considered a typical dish.

Choose a holiday apartment in Francavilla Marittima based on your travel interests

When choosing a holiday apartment in Francavilla Marittima, you can tailor your itinerary to these focal points. Those looking for archaeological landscapes can focus on Timpone della Motta and Macchiabate; those wishing to explore local history in greater depth can combine the Museo Archeologico with the Fontana Vecchia and the religious buildings. For families with different interests, the archaeological sites, museum, buildings and festival tradition offer several ways to share discoveries.

More destinations for your planning

Other destinations you can include in your plans are Morano Calabro, Fagnano Castello, Frascineto, Papasidero, Firmo, Mandatoriccio, Acri and Tortora Marina.

For the main travel overview: Cosenza.