The exciting archaeological discovery of a shrine to Castro, probably dedicated to Athena, was told in the book edited by Francesco D'Andria, a professor of archeology and director of the graduate school in medieval and classical archeology at the University of Lecce, Castrum Minervae (Farewell, Galatina 2009, pp. 300, € 35). The book contains the results of excavations in 2007 and 2008, which aroused wide interest nationally and internationally: in addition to scientific journals, including The Independent worked on it with an entire page ("In the steps of a Trojan hero," April 27, 2007 ).
probable origin of Cretan and Greek , populated by Messapi evidence dating back to the eighth century BC, the fortress of Castro became a Roman colony in 123 BC by the name of Castrum Minervae, name derived from the temple to Pallas Athena, the Greeks, what was the goddess Minerva for the Romans. He also spoke in the third book of Virgil, the final date of a literary tradition in this place that identified the landing of Aeneas in Italy: "The port is curved in an arc against the sea of \u200b\u200bthe east, two headlands in the foaming ' shock wave and the port where you are hidden, the rocks like towers projecting arms are like two walls, the temple is up there, far from the sea. " 
The question of the landing of the Trojan hero has always been debated , since age humanist scholars from Salento, also identified with the place of arrival in Porto Roca Badisco or Old. Today, the correspondence between literary sources, topographic data and new archaeological discoveries, it seems almost definitive credit the possibility of Castro. "The installation of a sanctuary of Athena Castro - said D'Andria - is connected to ancient traditions, overshadowed by the myth of the founding of Idomeneo, and certainly the material of the sixth century BC refer to a cult already in attendance Archaic. The growth in attendance is the fourth and third century BC and is connected to the world of Magna Graecia. " The excavations made during 2007 on the south-east of the town towards the sea, in the village huts and walls, close to the remains of the walls messapiche dating from the second half of the fourth century BC Here were found fragments of ceramics in open forms, cups to handle unique mugs decorated with concentric circles painted on the bottom edge, which are clearly to be connected to the practices of libation. They were also found bones of sheep and astragals, with parts removed and abraded, indicating religious practices, such as slaughtering, burning and age juvenile animals chosen for sacrifice. 
emerged simultaneously pottery shards firearms, pots with the rim folded out, to show a consumption ritual meals, as have been found from other parts of the city trozzelle messapiche, regional, evidence from the place of worship. The religious character of the area is confirmed by iron objects tracked, arrowheads and spears, weapons that refer to the worship of Athena as at other sites in Sicily and Magna Graecia dedicated to the goddess. It is therefore certain that the whole band south-east up area is affected by deposits of votive for an area of \u200b\u200bat least 35 meters, which corresponds, in the settlement old, to a 'Athenaion "open view of the sea and port. Pieces of marble vases, a female statue in limestone-size, the triglyph a gable belonging to a temple they would further guarantee. But the turning point took place in May of 2008, when archaeologists Amedeo Galati and Emanuele Ciullo found a bronze statue of Athena in crested Phrygian Iliaca. This statue has the same characteristics of two bronze statues found in the sanctuary of Athena in Sparta, with a similar posture of the left leg bent backwards, and wearing the peplum el'elmo dome. The movement of the arms recalls the specimens in his right hand holding a Spartans' phiale "and a spear in his left: the three findings correspond to a model statue of Athena which is common. As he once wrote Strabo, "in Rome is called Athena Iliaca like it came from Troy."
The 'Athenaion "Castro , in addition to confirm the religious significance of the place , also attests to the significance of its geographical location in relation routes along the ancient marine Iapigio whole promontory, which included the southern part of Salento between Otranto and Leuca. "The cult of Athena - concludes D'Andria - goddess of" metis ", appears to be linked to sail around the Mediterranean sea and the places that mark important landmarks, such as headlands and narrow. The presence of Athena Castro is particularly significant because the Acropolis overlooking the coast up to Capo di Leuca appear crisp and clear days the outline of the mountains Acroceraunians on the Albanian coast. We are in the narrowest point of the Straits of Otranto. " These studies were made possible thanks to a collaboration which began ten years ago with a protocol between the City Council, Soprintendenza Archaeological and University of Salento is an example of good practice which is a measure of what the results of international importance, can be achieved if the institutions know how to coordinate and focus on culture, which always pays in the end, even in terms of marketing territory. Now Castro is working route at the foot of the walls, through the terraced gardens that surround the city, to admire the large blocks built by Messapi.
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