Archaeological Area and the Antiquarium of Colombarone

Archaeological Area and the Antiquarium of Colombarone

Surrounded by the greenery of the Parco San Bartolo, the Archaeological Area and the Antiquarium of Colombarone, a site rich in architectural traces and an adjacent museum with the archeological finds from the excavations, document centuries of history of the mid-Adriatic territory.

Many years of research, from 1983 to 2008, permitted the discovery of a unique and special area including a Late Antique villa, a basilica and a parish church.

The noble residence, which dates back to the late III century, was the country residence of a landowner or state official, and many of the mosaics dated between the IV and the VI centuries are still visible.

In the VI century some sectors of the structure were abandoned whereas the representative one was transformed into a Christian church; that was the basilica of San Cristoforo ad Aquilam of the early middle ages,  surrounded by a cemetery area.

In the following centuries (7th-10th), the church was subjected to changes several times, assuming considerable dimensions, until it became a simple parish church. At the end of the 12th century the oldest part was demolished and in its place was built the “Chiesola” (demolished in 1858), of which a section of the perimeter wall has been recuperated.

Colombarone’s function as a center of worship has never faded. In the 19th century, not far away, a small church was built and in the early decades of the 20th century was built  the current church.

The Antiquarium is housed in the spaces of the 19th-century small church recuperated by the Municipality of Pesaro.

A multimedia video introduces the tour with an immersive and evocative reconstruction of the villa’s rooms, with numerous colorful wall coverings and wall decorations.

The small and precious museum tells the story of the excavations, starting with the identification of the site by Annibale Degli Abbati Olivieri, and shows the archeological finds discovered during the research. Among the materials attributable to the noble residence (3rd-6th century) are sections of lead pipe for water adduction to the thermal sector, ceramics, bronzes, glassware, dining room tableware, and the amphorae that attest to the provenance of food from all over the Mediterranean Basin.

But it is the basilica (6th-8th centuries) that offers the most unique finds including a glass window, fragments of the church’s marble iconostasis (separation between choir and central nave consisting of an architrave supported by columns) and a rare specimen of a multi-light pendant chandelier (polycandilon), found together with a coin treasure and glass chalices from the liturgical apparatus.

Finally, there are interesting objects from the private life of the ancient inhabitants of the site (ornaments and clothing, coins, simple household utensils).

Archaeological Area of Colombarone reopened to the public in 2016 and the Antiquarium in 2019.

Project sponsored by MIBAC/Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio delle Marche, Ales arte lavoro e servizi spa, Municipality of Pesaro, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Ente Parco San Bartolo