Welcome to the site Napoliforme

The acropolis of Cumae, the heart of the ancient city, is built on two terraces overlooking the Cumaean territory as far as the Silva Gallinara, the ancient holm-oak grove that stretches along the coast and the mythical place where Aeneas picked up the golden branch, a gift for Proserpina queen of the underworld, to gain access to the Underworld. The lower terrace is occupied by sacred and service buildings that date back to the Greek phase of the town, but have been continuously modified during the following eras, forming part of a single imposing sanctuary with a main temple. The complex has been identified as the 'temple of Apollo' due to the discovery of an altar engraved with a dedication to the god, but recent studies locate the seat of Apollo's cult on the highest part of the acropolis hill, making the traditional identification less convincing. The basement in tufa blocks dates back to the original part of the temple (end of the 6th century BC) and the monumental front, added on the long side, dates back to the Roman reconstruction of the Augustan period. With the rise of Christianity, the pagan temple was transformed into a Christian basilica (late 4th-early 5th century AD) with an octagonal baptistery of which the remains of the basement are visible