Satricum

Satricum is an ancient settlement on the right bank of the Astura river with remains of temples, streets, and homes built across different time periods. The ruins spread across a wide area and show how the city developed and changed over centuries.

The settlement began in the 6th century BC and changed hands several times between Roman and Volscian control as a key strategic point in the Latin League. These repeated shifts shaped the buildings and culture found here.

The Temple of Mater Matuta shows how early Latin and Volscian people practiced their religion through the preserved rooms and altars still visible today. The way these structures are arranged reveals how religious ceremonies took place here.

Access to the archaeological area is through Le Ferriere, where a museum displays around 700 objects from different periods of the settlement. Wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven and there are steps leading to various excavation areas.

A stone with an inscription called the Lapis Satricanus, found in 1977, provided rare evidence of the Volscian presence and how they interacted with Latin peoples. This discovery stands as one of the most direct records of contact between these two cultures.