Poco lontano da Sulmona (AQ) at the foot of Monte Morrone, just below the hermitage of Pope Celestine V, is the large sanctuary dedicated to Hercules Curinus. It is a confederate sanctuary that was referenced by all the inhabitants of the area (Italic phase IV-III century B.C.) and monumentalized after the Social War. The monument consists of two terraces of different eras.
A staircase with two flights allows access to the upper terrace, the oldest, at the center of which is the small shrine that preserves part of the rich wall decoration. The floor is covered by a multicolored mosaic.
On the second flight are preserved the fountain, which took water from a spring located further upstream, and the donarium, a stone block hollowed out in the center and originally closed by a lid. Of significant archaeological interest is the bronze statuette of Hercules at rest (exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum Villa Frigerj in Chieti) found inside the small shrine.
Information on the Hercules Curinus Archaeological Site
Località Badia
67039 Sulmona (L’Aquila)
087132951
sba-abr@beniculturali.it
https://www.archeoabruzzo.beniculturali.it
free
Source: MIBACT
