Temple of Juno Lacinia, Capo Colonna, Italy

The Temple of Juno Lacinia is a ruined ancient Greek temple dedicated to Hera (Juno) located on Capo Colonna in Calabria. The remaining feature is a Doric column with capital, about 8.2 m in height. Remains of marble roof-tiles have been seen on the spot and architectural fragments were excavated in 1886–1887 by the Archaeological Institute of America. The sculptures found were mostly buried again, but a few fragments, some decorative terracottas and a dedicatory inscription to Hera of the 6th century BC, in private possession at Crotone, are described by F. von Duhn in Notizie degli scavi.

The date of the erection of the temple is postulated as 480-440 BC; it is not recorded by any ancient writer. It was reputed to have been founded by Hercules (Herakles) after he killed the bandit Lacinius, who attempted to steal some of the cattle of Geryon.

The temple has been described as one of the most splendid in southern Italy. The federal treasury of the Italiote League was moved there in the 5th century BC, and remained there until relocated to Herakleia near Tarentum.

The temple was said to have still been fairly complete in the 16th century, but was destroyed to build the episcopal palace at Crotone.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Elena Martini (3 years ago)
Friday 11 June 11.30 am closed for unexplained reasons! Shame on you!

SM&PR (4 years ago)
Impeccable place, panorama and history. Unfortunately, the museum can be visited alone. No employee explains anything to you ....... Sin...........

Ann :- D. (4 years ago)
The archaeological park is interesting and beautiful, although it was not possible to visit the museum due to restrictions on the covid. I found indications about the distancing and the safety measures but, then, no one to check that they were respected. I would have been happy to pay some money in order to have a slightly more efficient service, especially for the area which is truly mortified and does not deserve it because Calabria is wonderful!

沈一 (5 years ago)
The staffs are super friendly and helpful!You can admire the best of the archaeological findings in this area as well as the wonderful site by yourself and all is free! Unbelievable!

Fabian Richter (5 years ago)
The museum seems closed from the outside looks of it, but turns out... it is actually open and free. The mesuem is nice, but apperently was never really finished, as the restaurant, the garden and the bar are missing. Worth a visit for the pieces in the museum, but dont expect anything more. Most pieces are only explained in Italian.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright gwpics

Historic Site of the week

Abbey of Saint-Georges

Saint-Georges de Boscherville Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey. It was founded in about 1113 by Guillaume de Tancarville on the site of an earlier establishment of secular canons and settled by monks from the Abbey of Saint-Evroul. The abbey church made of Caumont stone was erected from 1113 to 1140. The Norman builders aimed to have very well-lit naves and they did this by means of tall, large windows, initially made possible by a wooden ceiling, which prevented uplift, although this was replaced by a Gothic vault in the 13th century. The chapter room was built after the abbey church and dates from the last quarter of the 12th century.

The arrival of the Maurist monks in 1659, after the disasters of the Wars of Religion, helped to get the abbey back on a firmer spiritual, architectural and economic footing. They erected a large monastic building one wing of which fitted tightly around the chapter house (which was otherwise left as it was).

Temple of Juno Lacinia

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Abbey of Saint-Georges