Templi di Torre Maggiore

On the 1,121-metre summit of Torre Maggiore above Terni lie the foundations of two sanctuaries, one dated to the sixth century BC and the other to the second. The mountain was a major cult centre of the Monti Martani, and votive bronzes from the site include a figure of Mars and stylised human and animal forms.

Why it matters

The sanctuaries preserve evidence of religious life in the Monti Martani before and during the Roman period. An early sanctuary dates to the sixth century BC; a second was built in the second century BC, with monumental development continuing between the third and first centuries BC. The summit’s commanding position above the Terni basin gives the sacred site a striking mountain setting.

What to notice

A nearly circular pit cut into the rock, with a small channel, is identified as an early ritual feature of the sanctuary. Excavations uncovered votive bronzes, including figures of Mars and stylised human and animal statuettes. A diademed head from the site is now displayed in the Roman section of Terni’s archaeological museum. The summit’s panoramic views extend across the Monti Martani towards Todi and Perugia, and across the Valnerina towards Terminillo and the Gran Sasso.

Context and history

The first sanctuary developed on the mountain in the sixth century BC. In the Republican period, the site was monumentalised and a second sanctuary was built, establishing Torre Maggiore as one of the major cult centres of the Monti Martani. The sanctuary’s remains and its votive offerings connect the mountain’s sacred landscape with the ancient city of Interamna Nahars, now Terni.