Città romana di Mevaniola

The archaeological site of the Roman town of Mevaniola has been excavated several times by the Emilia-Romagna Archaeological Office. Of the Roman town are still visible some structures of the public baths, the theatre built in the characteristic Greek-hellenistic style and a small cistern.

Address: 47010 Galeata (FC), Italia
Telephone number: Comune di Galeata - Ufficio Cultura +39.0543.975424

Mail: cultura@comune.galeata.fc.it
Fax: +39.0543.975424

How to get there

Galeata is 34 kilometres from Forlì along the 4 Bidente provincial road. Driving towards Santa Sofia take the old carriageway between Galeata and Pianetto and then turn right into the pathway towards Canova - Basino until you reach on foot the archaeological area.

Analytical text

The remains of the Roman town of Mevaniola are situated on a fluvial terrace to the north of the village of Pianetto. The archaeological area is bordered by the creek Rio Secco, where tomb furnishings from 6th century have been brought to light, and by the creek Catenacciano.



It is believed that the area around Mevaniola in pre-roman age was inhabited by Umbrian populations. This appears to be confirmed by the fact that the territories of Mevaniola and Sarsina, according to the evidence of Pliny the Elder, were annexed into the 6th Augustean region called Umbria and not to the 8th region called Aemilia, as was the case with Forum Livii and Forum Popili. Little is known of the Romanisation and of the first stages of life of the centre. The excavations have indeed identified structures mainly dating back to the late Republican history (1st century b.C.).
All the uncovered public buildings seem to be organized around a pathway cutting through the archaeological area and surely reflecting the course of an important street of the town (probably the main street called Decumanus Maximus). Walking up the pathway we can see on the left some older structures thought to be the public baths, partially excavated around the 60's, preserving today a rectangular space with a semicircular structure (a bath?) probably belonging to the heated area. The excavations of the baths have brought to light a mosaic inscription from the middle of the 1st century b.C., displayed today at "Mons. Domenico Mambrini" Civic Museum, recording the reconstruction of hot water systems. Apart from the peculiarity of the writing technique, the mosaic is interesting because it confirms the presence in Mevaniola of the gens Caesii, a family playing a prestigious role in many Umbrian municipia (Mevania, Sassina etc.) and allows to trace back the development of the Romanisation process in Italy (F. Cenerini).
To the north-west of the bath system (on the right of the pathway) was the forensic area (now buried) with a rectangular square (approx. 60 x 36,5 metres) paved with sandstone slabs and reliefs of red marble from Verona. On a shorter side, to the east of the forum, stood probably the rectangular basilica (approx. 15 x 35 metres). In an area north of the forum was found, during the excavations in 1951, a 24 cm. long key from the 1st century b.C. with an iron body and a bronze handle in the shape of a Molossian dog head representing a unique specimen in Roman Italy.
The Roman forum was dominated by the small theatre (1st century b.C.) reflecting Greek-hellenistic architectural patterns (with a huge round dancing floor called the orchestra facing a rectilinear stage and passages going from one side to the other) and perhaps used for public meetings given the proximity to the forensic area. The only surviving elements of the theatre are three flight of steps in the cavea, the upper ones being supported by an earth embankment or made of wood structures. Beside the theatre is a square cistern used for collecting water.
The name Mevaniola brings to mind the ancient Mevania, known today as Bevagna in Umbria, but the lies between the two towns and the two toponyms are still unclear.

News

In the bath area was discovered the floor mosaic of Cesius (1st century b.C.) which is now exhibited at "Mons. Domenico Mambrini" Civic Museum.
All the implements recovered from the excavations or after occasional finds of Roman artefacts are displayed at the Civic Museum in a room dedicated to the Roman town.

Opening time

The site is not open to the public - For guided tours phone the Arts and Culture Office of Galeata City Council.