Archaeological Park of Siponto

Archaeological Park of Siponto

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

The Archaeological Park of Siponto and the Tresoldi’s artwork

This Archaeological Park tells the weightiness that the ancient Siponto achieved during the Roman era.

The ruins of the Early Christian Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore remind us of the importance of this diocese for the Region. Its architecture with three naves, the central apsis, and the mosaic floor proves the magnificence of this Basilica.

Today on these ruins we find the huge Edoardo Tresoldi’s artwork “Where art rebuild the time”.

Tresoldi indeed rebuilt the Basilica of Siponto in 2016, with 4.500 meters of the metal net in a huge architecture 14 meters high and 7 tons weight.

This artwork gave to Siponto the glory it had in ancient times. Nowadays it is an important art and cultural site in addition to the religious relevance the site already had.

The Romanesque Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

Moreover, beside Tresoldi’s artwork, there’s the younger Basilica built between the XI and XII century. The Church is absolutely one of the main cornerstones of the Apulian Romanesque Architecture.

It is a simple cube with a dome on the top and a crypt below with an external entrance that overlooks the new metal Basilica.

Part of the Romanesque Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was built using the remain materials of the ancient Siponto: columns, capitals, and decorations.

The front facade is beautiful and very typical with its fine archway supported by two columns laying down on two zoomorphic figures.

The same stylistic approach was used to build and renew the inside of the Church, which is absolutely fascinating.

  • The facade of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Siponto | Puglia
  • The magnificent Tresoldi's artwork, at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Siponto | Puglia

Nearby Siponto

The Archaeological Park of Siponto is three km far from Manfredonia, which is the closest relevant town to this site. But, consider that also Foggia, the biggest city of Northern Puglia, is quite close to it and offers a lot in terms of art, culture, and natural experiences.

Furthermore, nearby the Basilica is located the Salt Mine of Margherita di Savoia. It’s one of the most relevant Salt Mines of Italy and also a charming place with its pink water, white hills, and the beautiful flamingos.

The day we visited Siponto, we also visited the Salt Mine and had the luck to watch an attractive sunset reflected on the mine water.

It was stunning!

These are two incredible sites for photography lovers as we are!

If you’re looking for unconventional places to shoot, Siponto and the Salt Mine always give cool opportunities.

Concluding, if you want to reach and visit the Archaeological Park of Siponto, have a look at the proper area below where you find more info and the contact of Management Authority.

Ehi… don’t forget to check the forecast before coming!

Get in touch

Connect directly with the managing authority of this place by the contact form

You find all the conversations you made via ImaginApulia, like comments and massages by contact form, on the Your Connections page.

Other connectivity options

Brindisi Lecce BARI Fasano Taranto Vieste Troia Foggia Conversano Castellana Grotte Monopoli Polignano a Mare BARI Mola di Bari Andria Gravina in Puglia Trani Barletta Fasano Alberobello Noci Locorotondo Cisternino Martina Franca Mottola Laterza Castellaneta Marina Taranto Vieste Peschici Rodi Garganico Monte Sant’Angelo Manfredonia San Giovanni Rotondo Lesina Margherita di Savoia Foggia Ostuni Ceglie Messapica Francavilla Fontana Brindisi Lecce Torre dell’Orso Porto Cesareo Otranto S. Cesarea Terme Gallipoli Ugento Santa Maria di Leuca Nardò Faeto Troia Bovino Sant’Agata di Puglia Lucera

Info Points nearby

Margherita di Savoia

Info point City Centre
Via Principe Amedeo, 4
Tel. +39 0883 654012
info.margheritadisavoia@viaggiareinpuglia.it

Manfredonia

Info point City Centre
Piazza della Libertà, 1
Tel. +39 0884 581998
info.manfredonia@viaggiareinpuglia.it
prolocomf@libero.it

S.S. 89 Garganica | 71040 Manfredonia (FG)

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The tale of the Two Sisters


Traveling on the Apulian Adriatic coastline, in a few km from Lecce city, you’ll reach the marine area of Torre dell’Orso and the most famous Two Sisters Beach | ita: Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle.

  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia

Are you curious to know something about that singular name?

Well, there is a nice and a bit sad tale behind the Two Sisters Beach | ita: Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle. This gives the location a huge air of mystery.

This marine area is very fascinating. Reachable walking through a little Mediterranean Maquis forest, under the cliffs there’s a sandy beach 800 meters long.

Slight white sand, clear turquoise seawater, warm enchanting sun, everything in the same stunning place.

But probably you’re still thinking about the tale, so, I’m going to tell the story.

The tale of the Sisters

« The tale says that once upon a time, two young sisters were living in the Salento area. They were very hard workers, and they had never seen the magnificence of the sea.

One day, to counteract the hot summer, they went toward the seaside for the first time. Well, they were so much fascinated by the amazing view they got there that the younger one dived from the cliff into the water. At that point, the eldest sister tried to save her, but it was too late.

They couldn’t get back to the shore. The Gods, looking at them: alone, desperate, and cute, decided to turn them into two beautiful rocky stacks in the middle of the sea.

A fisherman, while walking nearby, just saw two rocks rise from the sea. Since that day, the beach is known as Two Sisters Beach. »

The tale is very magical but a bit sad, and once there, it’s really hard to don’t get emotional.

Then, the clear seawater just completes the landscape.

Two Sisters Beach and Torre Dell’Orso

The Two Sisters Beach| ita: Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | is located in the marine area of MelendugnoTorre dell’Orso. For the sake of completeness, we have to say that also this name has got a charming little story.

In this case, the name Torre dell’Orso, which literally means Bear Tower, derives from the sighting tower by the sea.

Then, on the cliff under the tower, there’s a rock shaped like a bear by the erosion.

  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia
  • Two Sisters Beach - Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | Torre dell'Orso | Lecce | Salento | Puglia

One day trip

If you want to get a fantastic and cool experience traveling on the Adriatic coastline, start your trip having a good breakfast in Lecce.

We advise you to ask for a pasticiotto and a caffè leccese: you’ll love them from here to the moon and back!

Then, drive from Lecce to Roca Vecchia village, where the amazing Poetry Cave | ita: Grotta della Poesia | awaits you for a nice dive.

After that, run towards the Two Sisters Beach | ita: Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle | to get a relaxing swim into one of the most beautiful seas of Puglia.

In the end, reach Torre Sant’Andrea to admire the stunning view of The Sea Stacks of Sant’Andrea | ita: I Faraglioni di Sant’Andrea .

But if you have still time, don’t miss the weird landscape of the Bauxite Cave | ita: Cava di Bauxite | quite close to Otranto.

You can easily do this little itinerary on a one day trip. From the morning to the night on the southern Adriatic coastline of Puglia.

We did it and you find an article about our Road Trip in Salento on the blog!

Would you like to start your trip? Enjoy your One day trip to Salento!

Click on the map below to directly get the direction.

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