The volume Il Salento bizantino. Una guida archeologica (Byzantine Salento. An Archaeological Guide), written by Paul Arthur, Marco Leo Imperiale, and Marisa Tinelli, has been recently published.
Through this work, the authors aim to highlight the importance and richness of the Byzantine heritage in Salento, which extends beyond its material aspects. Their goal is to raise public awareness of this historical legacy, hoping that greater understanding will lead both to more dedicated efforts in its preservation and enhancement and to a broader cultural enrichment.
The Byzantine Empire, the Eastern Rome, was one of the greatest empires in Europe and the Mediterranean. For more than half of its thousand-year history, Byzantium ruled much of Italy, especially the southern part of the peninsula, until the Normans conquered Bari in 1071.
The Byzantine presence—through administrators, soldiers, farmers, and clerics—left a profound and lasting impact on southern Italy, influencing language, religion, topography, food, wine, and even genetics. Much remains to be discovered.
This first general guide to Byzantine Salento introduces readers to some of its fascinating archaeological sites and the many stories they have to tell.
The guide is available for purchase on the CLAUDIO GRENZI EDITORE website.
Format: 14×23 cm
Pages: 104
Illustrations: 101 in color
ISBN: 978-88-8431-908-1