The discovery occurred accidentally when a floor drain was being replaced, leading to the collapse of a section of the basement floor.
Archaeologists identified remains from the Messapian period, including a sacrificial pit used for ritual offerings.
The property contains a complex sequence of cisterns that date back to Roman and medieval water-collection infrastructure.
Evidence suggests the site served as a stopover for Knights Templar during the Crusades.
Over 5,000 artifacts, ranging from pottery shards to coins and human remains, were recovered during the decade-long private excavation.
The basement structure includes a secret corridor system possibly used for clandestine activities in the medieval era.
The house remains the private residence of the Faggiano family despite its role as an archaeological museum.
Museo Faggiano is a private archaeological site discovered by chance in 2001 during plumbing repairs beneath a family home. The site spans over 2,500 years of history, revealing layered evidence of Messapian, Roman, Byzantine, and Templar civilizations. Visitors walk on glass floors over ancient wells, cisterns, and storage pits found within the domestic floor plan. Notable features include a Neolithic-era tomb and a series of underground tunnels and escape routes. The current owners meticulously excavated the site themselves over several years before opening it to the public. It provides a unique cross-section of Lecce's urban development beneath a standard residential street. The museum highlights the evolution of water management systems through various historical epochs. Every artifact on display was unearthed directly from the property during the renovation process.
The central viewing platform that captures the multi-level depth of the excavation layers.
Walk slowly as the floor is a mix of glass, metal, and stone, which can be uneven.
Read the provided information panels carefully, as they explain how the different layers of history overlap in a single room.
Wear comfortable, flat shoes to safely navigate the metal staircases and transparent platforms.
Do not attempt to walk through the site without looking down, as the glass floor segments require careful footing.
Maintain a quiet volume and avoid touching the exposed ancient masonry or historical items on display.
