The archaeological area at the Cathedral of Concordia mainly displays the remains of the monumental early Christian group of buildings and, for some parts, of the Roman phase of this settlement.
The visit itinerary starts from the “quadriportico”, a four-sided porch (A), continues through the “Basilica Apostolorum” (B) up to the paved courtyard on its southern side (C). It finally reaches the “Trychora Martyrum” (D) and the necropolis with the tomb of Faustiniana (E).
The Roman phase is documented by part of a paved road (F), which is located in the northern part of the archaeological area, and by some pieces of pavements in terracotta tiles which are visible underneath the presbytery of the early Christian Basilica. This pavement pertains to commercial buildings that have been dated to I – II century A.D. The road was still used in late antiquity and joined the “via Annia”. Truck traces are still visible today.
The late antiquity is documented by all the other remains in the archaeological area. The most ancient building is the “Trychora Martyrum” (D), which had three apses and which was built in mid IV century A.D. to contain the relics of Christian martyrs. At the end of the century the “Trychora” was transformed in a small “Basilica” by adding a building with two rows of columns and three naves on its front. Behind the “Trychora” there are the funerary enclosures (E), each with niches and front porch. In V century A.D. one of these enclosures was transformed in the private funerary chapel of Faustiniana, a lady of senatorial rank.
The Basilica Apostolorum (B) is the most important and biggest (m 40 x 20) building in the area and it was built at the end of IV century A.D. It is a church divided into three naves by Greek marble columns and paved with mosaics representing Christian images and symbols. The pavement of the presbytery was originally at the same altitude as that of the naves but it was raised in V century A.D. Under the presbytery it is still possible to see the terracotta pavements of previous buildings. A big four-sided porch (m 27 x 18,5, A) was built in front of the Basilica at the beginning of the V century. The porch was partially paved in mosaics and was accessible via the Roman road. Along the two short sides it is possible to notice some rooms which have been interpreted as episcopate (south) and as guesthouses for pilgrims and monks (north). Beside the Cathedral there is a paved courtyard (C), which was originally surrounded by a porch and through which it is possible to access a funerary area with various sarcophaguses. The religious compound was destroyed in the VI century A.D. by a fire and it was buried under thick alluvial layers between the end of the VI and the VIII century A.D.