On September 18, 2023, the two-week archaeological excavation training for the students of the School of Specialization in Architectural and Landscape Heritage at Sapienza University of Rome began at the site of Leopoli-Cencelle, near Tarquinia. The activity is part of the course in Methodology and Techniques of Archaeological Research, taught by Professors Lia Barelli and Maria Romana Picuti, with the collaboration of Dr. Beatrice Brancazi.
During the excavation, students will contribute to uncovering and studying the remains of the city of Leopoli-Cencelle, now in ruins and nestled in the unspoiled landscape of the Tolfa mountains in northern Lazio. The settlement was founded by Pope Leo IV in 854 to provide refuge for coastal inhabitants—particularly those from Centumcellae, present-day Civitavecchia—fleeing Saracen raids. The best-preserved remains date from the 13th and 14th centuries, including the Church of St. Peter. The town experienced gradual depopulation and, by the 17th century, became the center of an agricultural estate before being permanently abandoned.
Excavations at the site, led by Sapienza University of Rome, began in 1994 through the initiative of Professor Letizia Pani Ermini, chair of Christian and Medieval Archaeology. Now part of the Grandi Scavi Sapienza project, the site was long under the scientific direction of Professor Francesca Romana Stasolla and is currently directed by Professor Giorgia Maria Annoscia (L-ANT/08). Thanks to her generous support, the School is able to offer students a hands-on experience that engages a wide range of archaeological disciplines and applies cutting-edge methodologies.