On Saturday, November 30, the archaeological excavations at the Grotte di Catullo in Sirmione opened to the public, providing a significant opportunity to explore the historical heritage of the area. From 2 PM to 4 PM, visitors were able to attend an event showcasing the advancements in the archaeological investigations conducted at this emblematic site.
Thanks to funding from the General Directorate of Museums of the Ministry of Culture, excavation activities have resumed under the supervision of the Regional Directorate of National Museums of Lombardy. Currently, the focus is on the “Cortile N” of the Roman villa, an area that had never been subjected to systematic investigation until 2021. During that time, a preliminary excavation revealed part of a porticoed atrium with stucco-covered columns dating back to the Augustan phase of the villa.
The current project, scientifically directed by Dr. Barbara Bianchi and carried out by archaeologists from Semper s.r.l.s., aims to deepen the understanding of the porticoed atrium and its structural relationships with the peristyle and the nearby large cistern. The research also focuses on locating structures from the Republican era that were previously identified in 1988 during the excavation of the adjacent triclinium.
The investigations cover an area of approximately 60 square meters and have already yielded significant results: the eastern arm of the portico with a cocciopesto pavement has been identified, and important planimetric aspects concerning the rooms and corridors adorned with black and white mosaic flooring have been clarified. These spaces had only been hypothetically outlined by Girolamo Orti Manara at the end of the 19th century.
Furthermore, the analysis of Republican levels has allowed for the identification of wall traces belonging to a structure that occupied the highest part of the Sirmione peninsula as early as the first half of the 1st century BC. The documentation collected during the excavations will contribute to enriching the historical understanding of the architectural complex and the chronological aspects related to its developments.
Italian Version
