The archeologic area of Metapontum is an archeological site with remains of the ancient city of Metaponto in Lucania, in the territory of the commune of Bernalda (MT), where many of the discovered remains are conserved, having been found on the Strada Statale 106 Jonica. In this area, there are Greeks remains, as the Palatine Tables and Temples of Apollo and Hera, built in 570 BC, all in Doric style. Palatine Tables are the remains of a Doric temple of the 6^th  century BC dedicated to the mythological deity, Hera. The remains of the monument are located on the last wave of Givon, ancient coastal beads, near the right bank of the river Bràdano erected on the ruins of an ancient Neolithic village, along the road from prehistoric Heraclea-Siris, about 3 km from the city of Metapontum. The temple was restored in 1961, was initially attributed to the worship of the goddess Athena, after the fragment of a vase, found during excavation in 1926, was found a votive dedication to the goddess Hera. Until the 19^th  century the Palatine Tables were also locally called “Palatine shelves” or “Columns Palatine”, probably remember the struggle against the Saracens of the Paladins of France. The temple was also called “School of Pythagoras,” in memory of the great philosopher Pythagoras. The remains of the temple consist of 20 channels and 15 columns with Doric capitals. Of the 15 columns, 10 are on the north side and 5 on the south.

Palatine Tables

Archeological Museum of Metapontum

The National Archaeological Museum of Metapontum, qualified through a selection of pieces recently acquired, proposes a Metapontino’s framework, from prehistory until late ancient period.

The main sections describe:

Forms of initial population by the Enotri-Chon during the Middle Bronze Age and Iron Age
The arrival of the Greeks from Acaia (region of Peloponnese) during the 7^th century BC
The formation of the colony and the city’s development
Change centers of the Italic hinterland between the 4^th and 6^th  centuries BC
The period of Roman conquest and the gradual abandonment of Metapontum

The exhibits consist of prehistoric objects and ornaments found in burial among which jewelry and objects in bronze and ivory of high quality. The majority of evidence comes from the Greek age of Pisticci Incoronata site, with cups and decorated pottery, among which the censer with trees decorated with animals and mythological scenes. Dating Next are the findings from numerous temples Metapontum  painted vases and bowls. Roman age are gray pottery Hellenistic, Roman and African sealed late imperial and Asia Minor. The museum is the responsibility of the Archaeological Superintendence of Basilicata.

Information times 9:00 to 20:00
Tue – Sun, 14:00 to 20:00
Mon Closed Monday morning
Full price € 2.50 (includes archaeological area)
Reduced price € 1.25 (including the archaeological input)
Via Aristea, 21 Metaponto MT
Tel:  0835/745327