Sito Archeologico di Luceria
Museum | Ciano D'Enza | Emilia-Romagna | Italy
The "Sito Archeologico di Luceria" in Ciano d'Enza is an important archaeological site that presents the remains of an ancient city from the time of the Ligurians and Romans. Luceria, originally a Ligurian settlement, was colonized by the Romans in the 4th century BC and experienced its heyday in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.
The excavations, which began in the 18th century and continued in the 19th century, uncovered various structures, including a well-preserved paved road that ran through the center of the city, as well as foundations of houses and public buildings. Particularly noteworthy is a four-meter-high stone column with a conical base, which presumably stood in front of a public building. Numerous graves, both cremation and inhumation burials, were discovered, providing valuable insights into burial culture of the time. Some of these graves contained weapons and jewelry, which were bent or broken in a characteristic ritual act, indicating the Ligurian tradition.
The finds from the various excavation phases are now housed in several museums, including the Museo Nazionale di Antichità in Parma and the Civico Museo di Reggio Emilia. The site in Ciano d'Enza itself was recognized as an archaeological area in 2014 and made accessible to the public. Although the area is limited, visitors can see the remains of the paved road and adjacent structures here, including a well and foundation remains from various construction phases. The site thus offers a fascinating insight into the life and architecture of an ancient city in the heart of Emilia-Romagna.
