Saraceno mountain, Mountain site with necropolis in Mattinata, Italy

Saraceno mountain is a hill of three connected summits between 230 and 260 metres above the Adriatic Sea, in the territory of Mattinata. Its slopes carry natural woods of Aleppo pine, and on the height lies a Daunian necropolis of at least 400 graves cut into the rock.

Mount Saraceno holds a Daunian necropolis of at least 400 tombs cut into the rock, dated to the 9th century BC. The Daunians were the ancient people of this part of Apulia; the site is a burial ground, not a settlement. The hill itself, which Horace called Mons matinus, overlooks the Adriatic in the territory of Mattinata.

The carved tombs show how people buried their dead and what objects held meaning for them. Visitors can still see stone markers with engraved jewelry and weapons that tell stories about daily life in this ancient community.

The mountain is reached via the S.S. 89 road toward Manfredonia, where a 1-kilometer walking path leads through the archaeological area. The route is straightforward to follow and offers several viewpoints overlooking the sea.

The necropolis holds at least 400 tombs cut straight into the limestone, not built from separate blocks. The Daunians dug them in the 9th century BC on a hill that Horace called Mons matinus. The whole hill, 223 hectares across three summits, is a Site of Community Importance.