From Gioiosa Guardia to Gioiosa Marea. Gioiosa Guardia (or Gioiosa Vecchia) was founded around 1364 by Vinciguerra d’Aragona and located on Monte Meliuso at 795 meters SLM, the city had the right to build towers and fortresses where it was necessary, to defend the territory from the invasions of the pirates. Visual relationships could be easily entertained with the Torre di Piraino, with the Castle of Patti and with that of Tindari. The population was provided free of charge with the land for the construction of the houses, about 800, until, due to a violent earthquake in 1763, of a subsequent invasion of grasshoppers that destroyed all the crops, of the absolute lack of water and the dense fog that frequently enveloped the mountain, the inhabitants, after a peaceful referendum, decided to move to “Ciappe di tone”, The current town of Gioiosa stands. The mayor Tindara La Galia: “The antiquarium of Gioiosa Marea is much more than a museum: it is a bridge between our past and our future. It is the result of years of research and excavations conducted with dedication and competence by Gabriella Decano and by Piero Coppolino on the archaeological site of Gioiosa Guardia. Since 2007, thanks to the collaboration with the Superintendency of the Cultural Heritage of Messina, Precious that tell the long and fascinating history of our territory, from the prehistoric origins to the Hellenistic and medieval age.
The Antiquarium of Gioiosa Marea represents the result of an intense excavation work on the archaeological site of Gioiosa Guardia. It houses unique testimonies of the past, objects that tell the extraordinary history of the territory by offering the opportunity to connect the generations present at their roots. It is an archaeological site of great importance, although not yet identified with certainty by scholars. Its importance is underlined by numerous finds, in particular those dating back to the Greek period. Among these, refined black paint ceramic artifacts stand out from prestigious Magno-Greek and Siceliotic workshops of the time. The research confirmed the presence of the site since prehistoric era, with testimonies of the Bronze Age (XII-X century AC), traces of an indigenous settlement dating back to the Iron Age (IX-VII AC) a Hellenized inhabited area dating back between the VI and IV century. AC The Antiquarium constitutes a fundamental piece for the community and for the cultural resources of the territory.
The Antiquarium is part of the network of the municipal museums of Sicily, an initiative promoted by Anci Sicilia which has now seen the adhesion of about 100 municipalities and 200 museums through a formal resolution of the city council. The initiative, to which the Musei-sicilia.it portal is dedicated, can be considered as the start of a set of projects aimed at enhancing and improving individual municipal museums from multiple points of view and promoting even more the Sicilian cultural heritage as a whole. For more information on the Museums Network, to understand how to adhere and collaborate and propose projects and initiatives, you can visit the Musei-sicilia.it portal or write to (email protected) to discover the antiquarium. It is an exhibition space that houses the numerous finds found in the 1980s during the archaeological excavations that brought to light, on Mount Meliuso the remains of an ancient human settlement of pre -Elylenic origin. In the exhibition space you can admire, in the center of the room, of the large containers used for the conservation and stowage of the grains. Around these objects there are display cases that keep objects of daily life, mostly consisting of pottery, kitchen sets and tomb -equipped accompanied Acts of the Bronze Age beginning of the iron age (XII AC century) up to the 4th century BC, age of Greek domination. The exhibition includes the teaching reconstruction of an ancient frame for the weaving of wool.
The archaeological heritage that we retain – in particular the refined black paint ceramic artefacts from Magno -Greek and Siceliote workshops – is a treasure of priceless cultural value. But a cultural heritage exists fully only when it is recognized, valued and shared. The adhesion to the network of the municipal museums of Sicily represents an extraordinary opportunity to enhance our museum, increase its visibility and make it an active part of the island’s cultural and tourist circuit. This will not only allow us to attract an increasing number of visitors, but also to start collaborations, cultural exchanges, educational projects and shared enhancement initiatives. We are also planning an integrated path: visitors to the Gioiosa Guardia site will be accompanied first to the Antiquarium, where they will be able to fully understand the historical, architectural and cultural value of the site, from its prehistoric origins to the medieval phase. This narrative and didactic approach will increase the quality of the cultural experience offered. Knowing one’s story means building awareness, identity and pride. The Antiquarium is a garrison of memory and culture, a fundamental tool to educate the new generations and to promote cultured and sustainable tourism, which can also be a flywheel for the local economy. Invitation citizens, scholars, tourists and enthusiasts to discover the antiquarium, because only through knowledge and sharing can we really return value to our extraordinary heritage.