Well yes: let's pretend that spring has arrived, given that time permits it, and let's dedicate ourselves to discovering a novelty, a structure open to the public from 10 February this year. This is the Archaeological-fluvial site of Longola (*) (http://pompeiisites.org/longola/), in the territory of the municipality of Poggiomarino, in the province of Naples (Sarno exit of the A30, set Via Longola - Poggiomarino on the navigator and pay attention to the sign indicating the archaeological area, which can be overlooked). The history of the discovery of the first finds and the setting up of the archaeological area open to the public is reported in detail on the very interesting website www.longola.it; from this website we take a few brief historical notes for a quick introduction to the visit. Longola, it must be said immediately, is also commendable from our point of view, as it is completely accessible and walkable by wheelchair.
In November 2000, during excavations for the construction of one of the water purifiers of the Sarno river, archaeological finds emerged in Poggiomarino, in the locality of Longola, which prompted those responsible for the works to inform the Archaeological Superintendency of Pompeii. Archaeological excavations have led to a sensational discovery: in the 1600 square meters probed, 4 meters deep, part of a suburban village dating back to the second millennium BC was found. which represents an exceptional case in the context of European protohistory. The archaeological site of Longola, defined by archaeologists as a "Venice of 3500 years ago", represents for the history of the Sarno valley a very useful piece for the reconstruction of a time span from the advanced phase of the Middle Bronze Age (XV-XIII century BC) up to the recent Orientalizing period (beginning of the sixth century BC). The protohistoric village of Longola was probably inhabited by an Oscan population, who spoke an Indo-European language of the Osco-Umbrian group. Virgil in the Aeneid (VII, 738) indicated it with the name of "Sarrasti", a tribe that tradition has descended from the Pelasgians who, in the High Bronze Age, migrated from the Peloponnese and settled in much of Southern Italy. It should be added that the finds found in the village, including three wooden pirogues, are kept in the deposits of the Superintendency of Pompeii, pending the preparation of a dedicated exhibition space. What we visit today is the reconstruction of two residential huts, located on one of the four islets that made up the village. The tour takes us to complete the circumnavigation of a marshy ecosystem on which the islets rise; the site was also equipped with an educational greenhouse, an educational laboratory, an olfactory path, a structure for outdoor performances, a play area, a multimedia room and a picnic area. There are two toilets equipped for the disabled. The Longola site is managed by the Municipality of Poggiomarino; admission is free and its opening is guaranteed by the work of a group of volunteers and guides (check the opening calendar on the website). For these reasons it is right to enhance what has already been done and encourage efforts for the works that still have to be completed, and we can do it by visiting this beautiful location and making it known to the widest possible audience. Here are some pictures taken yesterday 10 March: the islets and the huts:
path:
Sarno river:
the banks and the swamp:
the educational greenhouse:
As for the suggestions for lunch, if you don't like the idea of a picnic in the special areas, we have found three restaurants in the area that meet our requirements:
Essenza (*): Piazza Lago 16, Sarno +39 328 1615058 https://www.facebook.com/essenzacucinadimaresarno/ Osteria dei Sarrasti (*)
Via Ingegno 6, Sarno
081 967266 / 339 5792399 https://osteria-dei-sarrasti-sarno.eatbu.com
Masseria Rivolta (*): Via Rivolta 29, Striano +39 081 865 4672 / 334 314 7926
https://www.facebook.com/Masseria-Rivolta-Striano-179298125872025/?ref=page_internal (for lunch only on Sunday) (*) symbol indicating the presence of toilets equipped for the disabled
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