The Archaeological Museum of Schiavi di Abruzzo (MASDA) proposes in a scientific and captivating manner a summary of the discoveries and studies that involved the Sacred Area of the Italic Temples.

The Sacred Area

The site is situated in the East territory of the Samnium Pentrum and is at an altitude of nearly 1000 meters, at about 3 kilometres far from the modern town (1172 meters above sea level) and is known in the archaeological literature for the remaining of two Samnite temples, and more generally, for the interesting findings of these last decades. Easily accessible and open to the public, thanks to its particularity, the site has been involving for many years in numerous excavation, restoration, protection and reparation works to guarantee its utilisation.

The two temples that rise in the Sacred Area are extremely interesting for the history of the Etruscan-Italic architecture, both for the composition of its elements and for its terracotta decorations. The anatomic votive gifts here discovered are really suggestive and show us the fascinating and mysterious world of the popular worship practises throughout centuries.

In the Sacred Area the adoration rites would continue, without interruptions, from the Hellenist Age to the beginning of the XIV century BC, when the site was covered by a landslide.

The presence of a necropolis in the close proximity of the Sacred Area can be associated to the scope of the sacred; it contains tombs dating from the XI century BC to the IV century AD.

The Archaeological Museum of Schiavi di Abruzzo

MASDA wants the public to know the history of one of the best-preserved and studied Italic sanctuary of the Samnium Pentrum, showing to visitors a selection of the most significant remnants, illustrated with an involving communication system.

The museum planning structure, set up in building of the municipal property, guides the visitor in a ring tour that explains two main themes: the Sacred Area, with an analysis of the architectural solutions adopted for the building of the two temples and the rituals related with them; the tombs and the funerary rites, with rich grave goods of the first Imperial Age coming from the inhumation and cremation tombs discovered in the close necropolis.

The exposition area is created with a didactic target, thanks to the use of colours, sounds, light, images, giving large space to the three-dimensional equipment in way to directly "explain" to the visitors some of the main subjects of the museum.

MASDA OPENING HOURS AND DAYS

From the 1st to the 25th of August 2013

All days from 05.00 pm to 08.00 pm

From the 1st of September to the 29th of December 2013

All Mondays from 10.00 am to 01.00 pm.

Guided tours on demand with a minimum 48h notice at the phone number +393891812311

For school activities booking :

phone number +393891812311 or

email address csaparsifal@libero.it;

web: http://www.csa.altervista.org/;

http://www.italianarchaeology.altervista.org/

For any information please contact :

phone number +393891812311 or

email address csaparsifal@libero.it