Archaeological Park of Siponto, Manfredonia

Archaeological area of great significance that testifies to the importance reached by ancient Siponto in the Roman era (colony since 194 BC), when it became one of the main ports of Regio II. The remains of the early Christian basilica with three naves, a central apse, and a mosaic floor, recall that it was the seat of one of the most important dioceses in the region. Valuable mosaic floors from the basilica’s construction phase (4th century AD) and its renovation, which took place in the following century, are visible inside the medieval church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

The church, built between the late 11th and early 12th centuries, is one of the cornerstones of Apulian Romanesque architecture. It has the shape of a cube topped at the center by a small dome and a crypt with an entrance from the outside. Between the late 12th and early 13th centuries, it underwent numerous restoration works. For the construction and architectural decoration, materials from the older Siponto were reused (columns, capitals). Notable is the portal with an archivolt supported by two columns resting on the back of a lion.

Ongoing excavations focus on the medieval age of the city, before its abandonment during the 13th century.