Discovereto

Discovereto was created to investigate and tell the story of the ancient Site of Vereto, a strategic point for understanding the ancient history of the Capo di Leuca, its relationship with the sea, the Mediterranean routes and the cultures that have crossed the area over time.

The project is part of the wider Leucantica programme and aims to restore a central role to an archaeological site of great interest that has not yet been fully explored. Its importance concerns not only scholars but also the local community, visitors and all those who see cultural heritage as a living resource, capable of generating knowledge, identity and development.

The project

What is Discovereto

Discovereto is the first campaign of systematic archaeological excavations dedicated to the ancient Messapian city of Vereto. The project combines fieldwork, the study of finds, training, digital technologies and participatory archaeology.

The aim is not only to excavate and document an ancient site, but to build a path of shared knowledge. Vereto is presented as part of a wider territorial system in which archaeology, landscape, historical memory and community engage with one another.

From this perspective, Discovereto is not just a scientific project. It is also a cultural and public project, designed to make archaeological heritage more accessible, understandable and closer to people.

A cultural project for the community

The value of Discovereto is not measured only in the finds brought to light or in new scientific discoveries. Its broader significance lies in its ability to turn archaeological research into a shared experience.

Through excavations, public activities, digital content, workshops and outreach events, the project strengthens the bond between the community and its heritage. Vereto thus becomes a place to study, but also to tell, protect and experience.

The site

Why the Site of Vereto matters

Considered one of the main Messapian centres of southern Salento, Vereto stood on high ground in a commanding position, close to the coast and linked to key landing places such as Leuca and San Gregorio: a point from which to observe and control the area, but also a meeting place for peoples, goods, languages and cults.

Timeline of eras — Discovereto (parcovereto.it colours)

Messapian age

The ancient city

Roman age

Continuity of use

Late Antiquity

Transformations

Middle Ages

Memory and reuse

The city covered a large area, traditionally estimated at over forty hectares, and was protected by a circuit of walls still partly visible today. Ancient sources preserve various forms of the city’s name, while Messapian inscriptions help to reconstruct its historical identity.

A landscape to be read

One of the most significant aspects of Discovereto is its focus on the landscape, seen not as a mere backdrop but as a genuine historical source to be interpreted. Different places, linked by the same cultural geography, together form a complex system in which every era has left traces, objects, paths and memories.

Vereto Patù Centopietre San Giovanni Battista Campo Re San Gregorio Leuca

Patù still preserves important signs of this long history. The Centopietre Monument, one of the best known in the area, bears witness to the reuse of materials from the ancient city. The Vereto Archaeological Museum, housed in Palazzo Liborio Romano, also makes this heritage accessible through finds, narratives and learning paths.

The Capo di Leuca plays a decisive role: here the Adriatic and the Ionian ideally meet, and the routes of the eastern Mediterranean opened up towards Italy. Looking out to sea through the landing places of Leuca and San Gregorio, Vereto was part of a network of relations that reached far beyond the local dimension.