Campovalano Necropolis
One of Abruzzo’s most significant Picenian burial grounds, this sprawling necropolis reveals the funerary practices and social hierarchy of ancient Italic peoples across eight centuries.
At a glance
The Campovalano Necropolis is a Picenian burial site spanning the 10th to 2nd century B.C. The excavated area covers approximately one and a half hectares and has yielded 624 documented tombs, with archaeological estimates suggesting around 15,000 burials across the entire necropolis plain.
History
This necropolis served the Piceni, an Italic people of the central Adriatic region, over a period of eight centuries. The continuity of burials from the Early Iron Age through the Roman period reflects the site’s enduring importance as a communal burial ground. The scale of interments—estimated at 15,000 across the full extent—indicates a substantial settlement or series of settlements in the vicinity.
What you see
Visitors encounter the reconstructed remains of tumuli, or burial mounds, arranged across the landscape. The most impressive feature is a 1:1 scale reconstruction of Abruzzo’s largest known cairn, measuring 25 meters in diameter. Within this monumental mound lies tomb n.2, identified as the burial of a person of considerable status. The Via Sacra, the ancient road on which funeral processions proceeded, runs through the site, bordered by additional visible tumuli on its upstream side.
Cultural significance
The necropolis documents Picenian funerary customs and social organization. The differentiation in tomb size and placement—particularly the monumental burial mound—reveals a hierarchical society. The continuity of use across eight centuries provides insight into cultural persistence and gradual integration with wider Mediterranean and Roman influences during the final Iron Age and early Classical periods.
Key facts
- Address: Piazzale San Gabriele, 1, Campli, Abruzzo
- Coordinates: 42.7252845, 13.6715165
- Excavated area: c. 1.5 hectares, 624 documented tombs
- Estimated total burials: c. 15,000
- Phone: 366 961 5902
- Website: http://www.gransassolagapark.it/pun_dettaglio.php?id=1238
Practical information
Admission is free of charge. Guided tours by expert staff from the ABAP Superintendency of Abruzzo are available upon request. The reconstructed mound and surrounding tumuli are accessible on foot throughout the site.
Getting there
The necropolis is located at Piazzale San Gabriele, 1 in Campli. For directions and current opening hours, check the official website or contact the site directly at the phone number listed above.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
See this place and what’s around it →Historical events at this place (4)
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