The archaeological area of Roccagloriosa, in Cilento, is nestled in a spectacular corner, between the Bussento river valley, towards the Cervati Massif on one side, the highest peak in Campania, and towards Mount Bulgheria on the other.
In the past this fortress represented a strategic position and this is the main reason why one or more ancient and well-known Italic settlements, now a UNESCO world heritage site, were formed here.
The equipped routes, balanced between naturalistic and tourist, have a main access point, reachable by car and well signposted. Following the updated signs you pass from the panoramic road to the area dedicated to the archaeological area on the Gulf of Policastro.
For visitors there are many parking spaces to choose from. Some are located particularly close to the access to the archaeological area, while others allow you to tackle the route with a more tourist approach.
The whole area is surrounded by bushes and Mediterranean scrub, with many shaded areas and allows access during the summer at a very accessible, purely symbolic cost.
Among excavations and restored sectors, the archaeological area of Rocca Gloriosa hosts many archaeological finds from the Lucanian area which date back to the period between the XNUMXth and XNUMXrd centuries BC. and which were reconstructed starting from the numerous excavations carried out within the municipal territory, in what is commonly believed to be the living area of the central complex of the Rocca.
There are numerous finds resulting from the research work carried out by archaeologists inside the tombs in the monumental necropolis.
The history of the frequentation of this area by the ancient Italians dates back to around the XNUMXnd millennium BC. but for unknown reasons and in the process of reconstruction, it was only during the XNUMXth century that the first stable settlement appeared on the Capitanali ridge.
It is during the period of Lucanian domination which extends between the 1,2th and XNUMXrd centuries BC. that the area developed fully, with the almost simultaneous appearance of the town and of an imposing ring of walls, made of limestone blocks extracted from a nearby quarry. The structure, which extends for a length of XNUMX km, also separated the city of the living from the necropolis.
In the museum complex there are many finds that come from different excavation campaigns that took place both in the area of the town and in that of the tombs and from which details of the stable presence of inhabitants emerged during the late Roman imperial era and in the Middle Ages .
Among the legends that hover over Roccagloriosa is that of Princess Fistelia, whose jewels are found in the lower antiquarium, where they are preserved in sturdy cases. There are many exquisitely crafted artefacts, the result of exchanges and craftsmanship.
Visiting the upper area instead, the dominant theme is that of the works of master potters found everywhere throughout the entire territory of Rocca Gloriosa.
The two museums represent only the indoor part of the archaeological park experience and during the summer it is possible to access the entire already stabilized excavation area with or without a guide for a day immersed in history and and gentle cosmetics.
