Area archeologica di Cales

The ancient Cales, established by the Ausonians on a vast plateau surrounded by the Rio de' Lanzi and Rio Pezzasecca streams, in the vicinity of the present-day municipality of Calvi Risorta, was a Roman colony from 334 BC. It was responsible for the control of the territory situated on the northern frontier of ancient Campania and the routes of access to Latium and Sannio.

Evidence pertaining to the protohistoric, archaic, and pre-Roman eras of the settlement has emerged from investigations conducted during the late 20th century. These investigations were carried out during the expansion of parking areas for the Autostrada del Sole motorway, which traverses the urban area. Additionally, excavations conducted in recent years have yielded significant findings from the surrounding necropolis, where clandestine activities have caused extensive damage. These excavations have led to the recovery of notable archaic grave goods.

The archaeological evidence of the ancient city has been preserved in its entirety despite the construction of the motorway route. The city walls, comprising six gates, date back to the 5th century BC and are constructed in opus quadratum. Additionally, the so-called Ponte delle Monache was constructed within a tuffaceous bank to facilitate the passage of the road towards the ager Falernus. In the vicinity of this ancient city, an urban sanctuary with a votive shrine was recently unearthed.

Among the most notable surviving testimonies, all dating to the Roman era, are the Amphitheatre, which can be dated to the 1st century BC with successive phases of the Imperial period, and the complex of the central baths, which can also be dated to the beginning of the 1st century BC. The structure also preserves almost all of the rooms, some of which still display their original stucco decoration. The Northern Baths, which date back to the 1st-2nd century AD, are another notable example. Their remains, arranged on three levels, are visible along the cardo maximus (main road axis) of the ancient city. This aligns with the route of the via Latina, which connected Teanum with Capua.