NECROPOLI AND HYPOGEA

- CANOSA
The ancient Canusium is one of the most important archaeological sites of the region. It is sited in a beautiful position on the northwestern extremity of the Murge, from which it is possible to admire the Tavoliere and the Ofanto Valley. In the modern town are the remains of some Roman buildings that are the object of archaeological excavations. However the town is known mainly for the beautiful underground tombs decorated with mosaics and reliefs and well-known for their rich objects. Some of these objects are displayed in the Municipal Museum. The remains of an Hellenistic temple, included in the Christian building of S. Leucio, is also of great interest.

- RUVO
In the archaeological literature the name of Ruvo, a town which is also known for its splendid Romanesque Cathedral, is mainly linked to the discovery of necropoli during the last century. Part of the finds are kept in the Jatta Museum that represents one of the most important existing collections of ancient ceramics, with more than 2000 pieces.

- LECCE
In Via Palmieri, that joins Porta Napoli with the Cathedral, is the 18th century Palmieri Palace. In its courtyard is the homonymous hypogeum consisting of a corridor with entrance stairs plastered with stucco, as well as three funerary rooms. Moreover, the Provincial Museum houses, among the numerous finds coming from all over the province, the funerary objects found in many tombs that have been discovered in different places of the town throughout the century.

- RUDIAE
The topography of the town, which is considered the native land of Quintus Ennius, is still the object of studies. However, besides some parts of the walls, it is possible to distinguish several monuments of particular importance, such as the amphitheatre, a paved road and a nymphaeum. Even the Messapian tombs of Rudiae are well-known for their objects and one of them has an entrance to an hypogeum with a staircase and three rooms decorated with paintings.

- VASTE
The Messapian necropolis of Vaste was studied in 1985 and is sited in the suburb of the ancient settlement; in the burials, that consist of sarcophagi covered with stone slabs, were rich objects dating back to the 5th-3rd centuries B.C. with many Greek imported objects that are displayed in the museum of Lecce. Inside the town was the hypogeum of the Caryatids, with an entrance staircase and a vestibule communicating with two funerary rooms. The caryatids are displayed in the museums of Taranto and Lecce.

La necropoli messapica di Vaste è stata esplorata nel 1985 ed è situata alla periferia dell'abitato antico; le sepolture, a sarcofago coperte da lastroni di pietra hanno restituito ricchi corredi del V-III sec. a.C. con molti materiali di importazione greca esposti al museo di Lecce. All'interno della città era invece situato l'ipogeo delle Cariatidi, con gradinata d'accesso e un vestibolo comunicante con due camere funerarie. Le cariatidi sono esposte nei musei di Taranto e Lecce.