The Tossal of Manises is an archaeological deposit that corresponds to the ancient Roman city of “Lucentum“. This city was developed from a previous Iberian settlement on the summit although the remains of this period are almost nonexistent, limited to small remnants of the wall that surrounded the settlement.
Most of the remains found are of Roman origin, giving these the name “Lucentum”, after the conquest of the Levant by Publio Cornelio Escipión.
The Tossal of Manises was declared Historic Artistic Monument in 1961, becoming one of the most important deposits of the Valencian Community, constituted mostly with remains of the period of greatest splendor of the city, dating between centuries I BC and I A.D.
Its surface area is 30,000 square meters and is one of the few Roman cities known in depth in Valencia.
The Tossal of Manises, is considered one of the most important deposits of the Valencian Community
The Tossal of Manises has its origin in the settlement at the top at the end of V century and early sixth century BC, epoch of the have not hardly archaeological remains. Thereafter in the late third century BC was built a robust fortification provided with towers, which completely surrounded the settlement by determining the future constructions and the perimeter of the city.
Later in the second century B.C. Tossal de Manises suffers a period of neglect caused by the destruction provoked by the Second Punic War, late in the second century BC a new construction period starts, where they will restored the walls, giving them new defensive systems.
To middle of the first century B.C. all urban roads are restored, the city acquired during the time of Augustus the rank of “municipium”, being at this epoch when historically is attested the name of “Lucentum”.
The city gets its greatest splendor in the late first century BC and throughout the century A.D. I, by constructing the forum, public baths, a new gateway, sewerage and at least one temple.
Finally at the end of the first century A.D. is evident the decay of Tossal de Manises, starting a tendency that ends with the abandonment of the city in the third century AD
This weakness is due to internal economic reasons and the proximity of the city of “Llici” (Elche) because it was better communicated by sea and by land, by taking away to “Lucentum” economic and strategic importance.
The deposit following its abandonment was frequented in a sporadic way, converting it in a quarry for constructions nearby the old city, thereafter between the eighth and tenth centuries the deposit will be busy, but this time as a Muslim cemetery.
The Tossal of Manises has suffered since then a period of neglect and its spoliation until 1990 in which a serious project was initiated to preserve the remains, by undertaking a restoration of the entire complex and recovering definitively of what still remained therein.
Ticket price € 2
(€ 1.20 the reduced)
The visit to Tossal de Manises can be done throughout the year except Mondays that will be closed.
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Plza. Dr. Gómez Ulla, s/n. Alicante, telephone 965 149 000
More information about the Tossal de Manises in marqalicante.com
Cover image www.romanheritage.com
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