News and updates

This section brings together updates from the DiscoVereto project: news from the site, photos from the field, short accounts by the archaeologists, in-depth articles on materials, and event announcements.

These updates will allow you to follow the work step by step, explaining how a discovery comes about, what questions it raises and what investigations it requires. A photo of the excavation, a pottery fragment, a stratigraphic section or a map can all provide opportunities to explain the archaeological method.

Updates will be published during the 2026 campaign and in the subsequent phases of study, laboratory analysis and public presentation.

From Centopietre to the Europe of Pilgrims: new research into the history of Vereto and Capo di Leuca

Research by Valentino Nizzo identifies the relic preserved in Altamura as the one documented in the 16th century in the territory of Patù, and sheds new light on the origins of Siminiano and the legend of the Centopietre. Documents, monuments and clues that had hitherto remained separate form a previously unseen reconstructive picture linking Vereto and Capo di Leuca to France and Spain, from the Via Francigena to the Camino de Santiago, to Charlemagne and Orlando, and to the great cultural networks of Renaissance Europe.

The findings of the research were presented today at the headquarters of the Superintendence for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto, marking the conclusion of the second archaeological excavation campaign at the Vereto site in Patù (Lecce), as part of the municipality’s project ‘The Ionian coast between Greeks and indigenous peoples: Torre San Gregorio, Approdo di Vereto’

A relic venerated for centuries in Altamura can now be traced, with virtually certain documentary evidence, to the territory of Patù and Leuca. And the mysterious figure of Siminiano – the knight who, according to tradition, is said to have died fighting alongside Charlemagne and to have been buried in the Centopietre – is, for the first time, given a historical explanation rooted in the European circulation of legends, pilgrimages and chivalric culture between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

These are some of the findings of the research presented today at the Lecce office of the Superintendence for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto by Valentino Nizzo, Professor of Etruscology and Pre-Roman Italian Archaeology at the University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’ and director of the DiscoVereto project.

The starting point is one of the most famous and controversial monuments in the historical and architectural heritage of southern Italy: the Centopietre di Patù, designated a national monument in 1875. Today, the site is at the centre of a dispute between the local council and the monument’s owners concerning the recognition of a right of public use over the area. Meanwhile, the serious state of disrepair and neglect in which the monument finds itself – with the frescoes now almost entirely gone and several roof slabs fractured and in danger of collapsing – has prompted the local council to initiate proceedings to request its expropriation from the Ministry of Culture. The aim is to carry out a project involving safety measures, conservative restoration and enhancement, thereby improving the site’s accessibility and public enjoyment.

Long considered a megalithic, pre-Hellenic or Messapian structure, it is now recognised as medieval, although questions remain regarding its precise chronology and original function. Its scholarly history is therefore, in itself, a lesson in methodology: a monument can take on a radically different meaning when observed without being confined to a preconceived interpretation.

This is the same principle that guided DiscoVereto, the excavation campaign conducted by the University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’ under the scientific direction of Valentino Nizzo, under a concession from the Ministry of Culture and with the supervision of the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto. The research was made possible by the initiative of the Municipality of Patù, which promoted the project in the local area and allocated resources to the archaeological activities, initially from the PNRR ‘Storie Meridiane’ programme and subsequently from the regional SMART-In programme.

Vereto was one of the main Messapian centres in Salento, strategically situated on the Leucadian promontory and linked to the landing places of Leuca and San Gregorio, along one of the connecting routes between the Italian peninsula and the eastern Mediterranean. Following the pre-Roman periods, the city continued to evolve through Romanisation and remained inhabited until late antiquity, when it was suddenly abandoned – according to legend, along with Leuca – following Charlemagne’s battle against the Moors on the Campo Re plain.

It is precisely for this reason that the DiscoVereto project was conceived from the outset as a diachronic study, capable of tracing the entire history of the settlement stratigraphically, right up to its most recent phases. From 18 May to 2 October 2026, with a break during the summer months, two excavation campaigns totalling ten weeks took place on the hill of Vereto and, in the second phase, at San Gregorio, the landing place of the ancient city.

The excavations are revealing precisely the chronological depth sought by the project. In the areas investigated, structures and layers relating to the final phases of the settlement’s occupation and use have come to light, spanning the Roman period and late antiquity; beneath these, the stratigraphy and materials point to the Messapian, Archaic and Early Iron Age phases, with traces of occupation that may be even older. The first campaign had already documented structures dating from the 3rd to the 6th centuries AD, alongside Messapian materials and evidence of the earliest phases of settlement in the area of the so-called acropolis.

From the outset, the excavation site was conceived not as a space restricted to specialists but as an experience of public and participatory archaeology, open daily to the community and accompanied by guided tours, talks, activities for schools and cultural initiatives, which were extended in September to include the landing stage at San Gregorio. Over the course of ten weeks, thousands of people and hundreds of pupils from schools of all levels were able to visit the excavations, in addition to those who followed the research on a daily basis via the website leucantica.it, the social media channels @DiscoVereto and the YouTube channel @Etruschannel. The aim is to share not only the results but also the research process itself: to show how an archaeological finding comes about, how an interpretation evolves, and why knowledge of our heritage is the first step towards its preservation.

The presentation on 5 October is merely the first public presentation of the research. The findings will be published in the coming weeks in the catalogue of the Vereto Archaeological Museum, edited by Mariangela Sammarco, and in Nizzo’s dedicated contribution on the history of Vereto from its origins through to Romanisation and the construction of its collective memory.

The research will then be further developed in a dedicated monograph, which will explore in greater depth the documentary history of the Centopietre, the story of the relic, the origins of the Siminiano tradition and the European parallels that have emerged from the investigation.

STATEMENTS:

Monsignor Vito Angiuli, Bishop of Ugento – Santa Maria di Leuca

“It is with particular attention and deep interest that we take note of the findings of this historical, documentary and archaeological research. This two-pronged investigation reveals the cultural and human value of historical research for our communities: digging in the ground or sifting through archive records does not merely mean unearthing artefacts or deciphering documents, but rediscovering living testimonies of Christian faith and devotion that time has concealed through the fading of memory. It is our hope that this meticulous reconstruction of our historical and spiritual roots will not remain confined to the realm of specialist scholarship, but will be fully shared with local communities. Understanding and reclaiming this collective memory will enable us to breathe new life and offer a fresh perspective on our monuments from the early Christian period, providing citizens and visitors with a more informed understanding of our spiritual and cultural heritage” (excerpt; full statement available at the following link).

Antonio Zunno, Superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto

“Research demonstrates once again just how closely knowledge and conservation are linked. The Centopietre is a site of exceptional importance to the region’s cultural heritage, and the opportunity to reinterpret its history within such a broad context further reinforces the need to ensure its study, conservation, accessibility and promotion. In agreement with the Municipality of Patù, we are working to initiate the procedures for the expropriation of the monument. This will enable not only its protection but also the promotion of a site that embodies the identity of Capo di Leuca and the Salento region.”

Gabriele Abaterusso, Mayor of Patù

“At last, Centopietre is emerging from ‘the state of neglect to which it seemed condemned forever’, as Adriano Prandi wrote in 1961. The new findings regarding the monument – the result of Professor Valentino Nizzo’s research within the broader framework of the Leucantica project and the Discovereto excavation campaign – are encouraging the Patù Municipal Council to continue what has, for the past 10 years, been a genuine battle aimed at rescuing the monument and the surrounding area from neglect, the Campo Re necropolis, and to ensure its proper protection through major restoration and enhancement works. Our recent decision to ask the Ministry of Culture, via the Superintendency, to initiate the expropriation procedure proved to be the only viable course of action, given the inaction of the owners – who have never carried out any work on the site – and the impossibility of reaching any kind of agreement to pursue what should be the shared objective of its preservation. This exemplary collaboration between the Superintendency, the Università Orientale, the Diocese of Ugento and the Municipality of Patù, with the crucial support of local associations and the community, will lead to the development of a positive dynamic of cultural and tourist growth for the entire Capo di Leuca area.”

Valentino Nizzo, Professor of Etruscology and Pre-Roman Italian Archaeology at the University of Naples L’Orientale and Director of DiscoVereto

“DiscoVereto, thanks to the commitment of the municipality of Patù and the trust placed in it by the Superintendency, was founded with the ambition of understanding a city across its entire history. Being specialists in the pre-Roman world does not mean seeking only what belongs to that era: it means applying the archaeological method without prejudice, documenting everything the ground reveals, from the most recent to the most ancient phases. It was precisely this approach – at the heart of the wider Leucantica research project – that took us from the Messapian and Roman Vereto to Centopietre, to the construction of medieval and Renaissance memory, and to the encounter between the Christian and Muslim worlds. By bringing together documents and clues that had always remained separate, a picture has emerged that we had not anticipated, one which places Patù and Capo di Leuca within a fully European cultural context. This has been made possible thanks to all those who, from the very beginning, have generously collaborated on the project and supported it and, above all, to the young students from the University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’ and other universities who have actively participated in the research over these intense months.”

For further information, visit the ‘Discoveries’ page

From Centopietre to the Europe of Pilgrims: new research into the history of Vereto and Capo di Leuca

5 October 2026

Superintendence for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Brindisi,

Lecce and Taranto

Via Antonio Galateo 2 – Lecce

11.00 am

On Monday 5 October at 11.00 am, at the Superintendency’s headquarters at Via Antonio Galateo 2 in Lecce, new findings will be presented concerning one of Salento’s most famous and enigmatic architectural monuments, the Centopietre di Patù; the mysterious figure of Siminiano, who, according to tradition, is buried within it; and a long-forgotten relic of St John the Baptist.

Documents, monuments and clues that have hitherto remained separate paint a previously unseen and unexpected picture, which leads from Capo di Leuca towards the great European routes of pilgrimage and chivalric culture.

The event will also focus on the latest discoveries made during the excavations at San Gregorio and Vereto.

Speakers:

Architect Antonio Zunno, Superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto;

Dr Gabriele Abaterusso, Mayor of Patù;

Father Gianluigi Marzo, Director of the Office for Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage of the Diocese of Ugento – Santa Maria di Leuca;

Valentino Nizzo, Professor of Etruscology and Pre-Roman Italian Archaeology at the University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’ and Director of the DiscoVereto project.

The Centopietre in Patù is one of the most unique architectural structures in southern Italy, declared a national monument in 1875. Long considered a megalithic, pre-Hellenic or Messapian structure, it is now recognised as

Valentino Nizzo, Professor of Etruscology and Pre-Roman Italian Archaeology at the University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’ and Director of the DiscoVereto project.

The Centopietre di Patù is one of the most unique architectural structures in southern Italy and was declared a national monument in 1875. Long considered a megalithic, pre-Hellenic or Messapian structure, it is now generally accepted to date from the Middle Ages, although questions remain regarding its chronology and function. Still in private ownership, the monument is also at the centre of a long and complex saga concerning ownership, use and conservation.

The research forms part of DiscoVereto, a programme of investigations developed by the University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’, under a ministerial concession and the supervision of the Superintendency, thanks to the decisive initiative of the Municipality of Patù, which promoted and supported the project by first making available resources from the PNRR ‘Storie Meridiane’ programme and subsequently those from the regional SMART-In programme. From 18 May to 2 October, with a summer break between the two campaigns, a total of ten weeks of excavation were carried out on the hill of Vereto and, finally, at San Gregorio, the landing place of the ancient city.

Presentation of the book "Rubi Antiqua: Excavations, Collections, Museums. The Fame and Fortune of Ruvo’s Antiquities in Nineteenth-Century Europe", edited by Daniela Ventrelli.

1 October 2026

Patù Town Hall

6.00 pm

The book, edited by Daniela Ventrelli – archaeologist, scientific director of the international Rubi antiqua programme and co-founder of the Leucantica project – will launch a discussion on the protection and promotion of archaeological and archival heritage from the 19th century to the present day, from Ruvo di Puglia to Capo di Leuca, featuring contributions from the relevant local authorities: the Ministry of Culture and the Puglia Region.

Speakers: 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮, archaeologist in charge of the Patù area. Superintendence for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto; 𝗚𝗶𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗶𝗻𝗼, Inspector at the IAO – Apulian Superintendence for Archives and Bibliography, Ministry of Culture; 𝗟𝘂𝗶𝗴𝗶 𝗗𝗲 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗮, Director of the ‘Sigismondo Castromediano’ Museum in Lecce. With the an introduction by 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼 𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗡𝗶𝘇𝘇𝗼.

The Programme of the Programme | "The cost of the Greek and Italian 𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑖: 𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒 𝑆𝑎𝑛 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑜, “A Proposal by Veretto” - 𝐶𝑈𝑃 𝐺𝟼𝟻𝐼𝟸𝟹𝟶𝟶𝟶𝟸𝟺𝟶𝟶𝟶𝟸TAG

In Puglia’s ‘Pompeii’: Collecting and Collections in Ruvo from the 19th century to the present day

29 September 2026

Palazzo Romano, Piazza Indipendenza, Patù

6.00 pm

Ruvo di Puglia and Capo di Leuca come together on Tuesday 29 September at 6.00 pm at Palazzo Romano in Patù for a journey through the history of archaeological collecting in Ruvo and its connection with the Salento region. The event will be led by archaeologist Daniela Ventrelli, scientific director of the international Rubi antiqua programme and co-creator of the Leucantica project, with a lecture entitled ‘In the “Pompeii” of Puglia: collecting and collections in Ruvo from the 19th century to the present day’.

At the heart of the event lies a question: why can Ruvo be described, somewhat boldly, as the ‘Pompeii of Puglia’? The answer begins with the archaeological discoveries made in the town in the Terra di Bari region during the first half of the 19th century and continues with the history of the Jatta Collection, before moving on to Capo di Leuca and the figure of Michele Arditi, Marquis of Presicce and director of the Royal Bourbon Museum. A journey that traces the origins of heritage conservation and archaeological collecting in Southern Italy.

A delegation from Ruvo, comprising Andrea Jatta, Marco Jatta, Rocco Laucello, Maria Stragapede and Santi Zizzo, will attend the event.

The event will strengthen the ties between the communities of Ruvo and Capo di Leuca, which have already been brought closer together recently by the Infiorata and the collaboration between their respective Pro Loco associations. During the evening, the archaeologist from Bari will also unveil, for the first time in public, some of the key elements of the Leucantica project.

As part of the project | “The Ionian coast between Greeks and indigenous peoples: Torre San Gregorio, Approdo di Vereto” – CUP G65I23000240002

Presentation of the book "Le radici ca tieni" by Francesco D'Andria.

20 September 2026

Palazzo Romano, Piazza Indipendenza, Patù

6.00 pm

Report on the first excavation campaign by the University of Naples L'Orientale at the site of Vereto (Patù - LE)

24 June 2026

Via Libertini 6, Lecce

11:30 am

Institutional Welcomes

Arch. Antonio Zunno – Superintendent of ABAP (Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape) for the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto

Dr Gabriele Abaterusso – Mayor of Patù

Introduction

Dr Serena Strafella – Case officer archaeologist responsible for the Patù territory

Speakers

Prof. Valentino Nizzo – University of Naples L'Orientale (Scientific Director of the research)

Dr Alessandro Rizzo – Archaeologist, field operations manager

DiscoVereto Archaeological Mission

Veretum - Terra di Scambi

10 June 2026

A land of passages, cultivation, trade, and community, Vereto safeguards a history built on connections between people, knowledge, and landscapes. Drawing upon this heritage, the event offers a space for discussion on the relationship between archaeological patrimony and contemporary agricultural practices.

Programme

18:00 | FARMERS' MARKET

A market featuring home-grown and artisanal products, organised by local producers.

Seed swap curated by the Casa delle Sementi project (Climavore's Monoculture Meltdown and Salento Km0).

19:00 | INTRODUCTORY TALK

Introduction by:

Antonio De Marco, Chairman of Archeorete del Mediterraneo

Mariangela Sammarco, Scientific Director of the Vereto Archaeological Museum

Chaired by:

Laura Perrone and Luca Coclite, Studioconcreto

Speakers:

Maeve Brennan, filmmaker

Valentino Nizzo, Professor at the University of Naples L'Orientale and Scientific Director of the Vereto archaeological excavation

Roberto Polo, farmer and expert in regenerative agriculture

Giovanni Giangreco, expert in archaeological and cultural resources

20:30 | SCREENING

SITICULOSA

Directed by Maeve Brennan (2025)

DiscoVereto: Guided School Tours Launch

The DiscoVereto project reopens the doors of history to local schools with a series of guided tours exploring the archaeological area of Patù (LE). Two days of exploration, storytelling, and learning designed to help students and educators understand the past and connect deeply with their cultural roots.

The initiative will welcome a total of 229 students, engaging them in a tailored educational itinerary structured to inspire curiosity and promote the value of local archaeological heritage.

Programme Outline:

Monday 8th June: Dedicated to Secondary Schools. Classes from Salve, Morciano, and Patù will explore the Vereto archaeological excavations, delving into the history and heritage of the ancient world.
Tuesday 9th June: Dedicated to Primary Schools. Classes from Morciano and Patù will explore the archaeological site and visit the charming Chiesetta della Madonna di Vereto, a historic chapel representing spirituality and local cultural identity.

UNIVERSITÀ in COMUNE

Five university lectures open to the public during the Vereto excavation campaign

On the occasion of the first systematic archaeological investigation campaign at the ancient Messapian city of Vereto, the University of Naples "L'Orientale" symbolically brings the university into the heart of the local community.

From 22 to 28 May, the Palazzo Comunale of Patù will host "Università in Comune", a series of five lectures open to the public drawn from the course on the Archaeology of Pre-Roman Italy, taught by Prof. Valentino Nizzo, scientific director of the DiscoVereto excavation.

The lectures, aimed at university students but freely open to residents, enthusiasts and the curious, will address themes relating to Etruscan civilisation and the other cultures of ancient Italy before Rome, whilst also offering an opportunity to reflect on the significance of archaeological research and on the relationship between the university, the territory and the community. At the end of each lecture, questions may be put to the speaker.

The initiative is born in the spirit of participatory archaeology that characterises the DiscoVereto project: sharing the knowledge, tools and methods of archaeological research, temporarily transforming the town hall into a space for dialogue between the university and the public.

Venue:

Palazzo Comunale, Via Giuseppe Romano 65, Patù (LE)

Schedule:

22, 25, 26, 27 and 28 May

6.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Free admission, subject to availability (approx. 50 seats).

The @DiscoVereto campaign is promoted by @uniorientale, as part of the @storiemeridiane project of the @comunedipatu and @comune_morcianodileuca, funded by the EU – NextGenerationEU and the MIC within the framework of the PNRR Cultura.

On 13 May 2026, at 6.00 pm, at Palazzo Romano in Patù, there will be a public presentation of the first archaeological excavation campaign in Vereto.

The event will be an opportunity to learn more about DiscoVereto, the research project dedicated to the ancient Messapian city of Vereto, promoted as part of Leucantica and included in the Storie Meridiane project of the municipalities of Patù and Morciano di Leuca.

The public is invited to attend an event dedicated to the objectives of the excavation, the historical and archaeological significance of the site, and the research, conservation and enhancement activities that will be launched in the area.

Institutional greetings:

Gabriele Abaterusso, Mayor of Patù

Lorenzo Ricchiuti, President of the “Terra di Leuca” Union of Municipalities and Mayor of Morciano di Leuca

Antonio Zunno, Superintendent of the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto

Speeches:

Valentino Nizzo, Associate Professor at the Università Orientale di Napoli and Scientific Director of the excavation

Coordinated by:

Mariangela Sammarco, Scientific Director of the Vereto Archaeological Museum

An opportunity to discover the initial research objectives and the significance of a site that continues to tell our story.

Municipality of Patù Municipality of Morciano di Leuca Associazione Narrazioni Archeorete Del Mediterraneo Castromediano Museum - Lecce.

Within the framework of the "Storie Meridiane" project of the Municipalities of Patù and Morciano di Leuca — funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU and by the Ministry of Culture under the PNRR Culture – M1C3I2.1

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