Vibo Valentia, Roman bath complex and other buildings discovered

Important archaeological discovery in Vibo Valentia: the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria and the province of Vibo Valentia, in collaboration with the Vibo Valentia Municipal Administration, has in fact recently announced some relevant findings in the Sant’Aloe district, within the Vibo Valentia Urban Archaeological Park. The findings emerged during seismic upgrading works at the “P.E. Murmura” school, under the supervision of the Superintendency and the scientific coordination of Dr. Michele Mazza.

The recently concluded excavation operations involved the foundation levels of the school building, exploring thirty-two rooms on the ground floor. Of these, thirteen rooms yielded a large number of finds and wall artifacts of considerable archaeological interest. The investigations revealed remains of structures attributable to both domus (private dwellings) and public buildings, part of the Municipium of Vibo Valentia. Among the most important discoveries is a bath complex, with a large bath tub, possibly a natatio (pool). The pool was covered with precious colored marble and set in a monumental environment decorated with marble niches, columns and statues.

From the room containing the bath tub come the most significant finds, recently transferred to the National Archaeological Museum “Vito Capialbi” in Vibo Valentia. Prominent among them is a marble statue of the goddess Artemis, which is now on display in a museum tour inaugurated a few months ago. The stratigraphy investigated and the materials collected allow the discoveries to be dated to a period between the late Republican Age (2nd-1st century B.C.) and the Imperial Age (2nd-3rd century A.D.). The structures found align with those already known in the neighborhood, as they are probably a continuation of the public/residential quarter already partially explored since the 1970s.

The discovery is the result of collaboration between the Superintendency and the Municipal Administration, which allowed the work to be conducted without interruption, reconciling the needs for structural adjustment of the school building with the protection of archaeological heritage. The results obtained enrich the historical and cultural heritage of Vibo Valentia and represent an important resource for the community, potentially attracting cultural tourism, according to the municipal administration. The excavation, directed by architect Giuseppe Romano, involved the firm Cipullo Nicola srl and Limes Società Cooperativa of Ravenna, and was supervised by archaeologists Fabio Lico and Manuel Zinnà.

Vibo Valentia, Roman bath complex and other buildings discovered

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