Archaeological Park of Castelseprio, Archaeological park near Castelseprio, Italy
The Archaeological Park of Castelseprio sits on a plateau overlooking the Olona Valley and contains ancient military structures along with religious buildings spread across the site. The location reveals overlapping structures from different periods of settlement and use.
The settlement started as a Roman fort and later developed into a Lombard stronghold until its destruction in 1287 by the Archbishop of Milan, Ottone Visconti. This transformation reflects shifting political control and power in the region.
The Church of Santa Maria foris portas displays early medieval frescoes with strong Byzantine artistic influences, uncovered in 1944. These artworks reveal how religious artistic traditions were expressed in this region.
The site sits on slightly elevated terrain and offers shaded paths between the archaeological remains that can be explored on foot. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as the ground is uneven and the route crosses the entire area.
The site contains an octagonal baptistry with two separate fonts dating from the 5th to 7th centuries, indicating different religious practices. This unusual arrangement reveals how different faith communities coexisted in the same location.
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