The Archaeological Site

Pieve Vecchia is an archeological site of Etruscan origins, associated with Roselle, an ancient walled settlement with an Etruscan necropolis, a Roman amphitheater, a forum and a public (pre-ecclesiastical) basilica which can be found nearby.

A perfectly preserved Roman cistern, dating back to the II century after Christ, is evidence of the historical and cultural value of the Pieve Vecchia Estate. Considerable restoration work was carried out in 2001-2 under the auspices of the Regional Board of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage (Sovrintendenza ai Beni Culturali), revealing a story buried for millennia.

The exterior structure of the cistern is totally intact, containing a large room once used for collecting water. Vincenzo Monaci was inspired to convert this space into a Contemporary Art gallery, a juxtaposition with the sites ancient origins.