Ancient Gems from Larinum: A Frontier Town in Molise, Italy

Stepping back in time to the Roman era, Larinum – now known as Larino – was a sprawling and populous settlement of antiquity, perched atop the rolling Molise hills, some 400 meters high. Its vantage point offered a sweeping view of the valley and the winding course of the Biferno river below. Furthermore, Larinum held a strategic position as a critical crossroads, where ancient trade routes converged. In the Roman period, Larinum bore immense significance, its borders stretching across a vast, fertile, and open plain that is today recognized as Piana San Leonardo. This frontier town found itself at the crossroads of cultures, standing as a buffer between the Adriatic coastline and the inland region of Samnium. Archaeological remnants serve as testament to a prosperous and densely populated town even before the commencement of the Punic Wars.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons