The History

Ancient writers supply us with only brief information about Ghathia. The city is mentioned by Greek geographer Strabo at the end of the first century B.C., and by the Latin poet Horace, who passed throught in 38 B.C. during his famous voyage from Rome to Brindisi (Satire I, 5). These autors, and the later itinerary sources invariably simply mention the position of Gnathia on the sea, on the border between Puecetia (territory of Bari) and Messapia (present-day Salento), at the halfway – point on the major ancient road between Bari and Brindisi.

The earliest human pesence in the area dates back to the Late Bronze Age (13th-12th centuries B.C.), with groups of huts scattered along the coast and interland. The most densely settled area was defended by a massive stone wall. This extended around a small peninsula which was destined to became a raised fortified area (the acropolis) as a result of continuous building.

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The Archeologic Museum

The Archeologic Museum of Egnazia is set outside the bundary walls of ancient Gnathia in the area of messapian necropolis. It consists of eleven bright pavilions around two Patio. At present it includes three different exhibitions: the first one “Documents of Bronze Age” is about the ancient settlements along the Adriatic coast of Apulia, dating back to the Bronze Age. There were frequently commercial exchanges with Greeks.

The second exhibition is about Gnathia. It includes a beautiful marble head of Attis and a mosaic representing the Three Graces.

The third  exhibition “Global archeology”, realized in collaboration with the University of Bari, emphasizes the relationship between Archeology and other scientific disciplines.

For further information click here

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