Vinica Fortress

The fortress above Vinica was occupied from the Roman period into the Byzantine and medieval centuries, and in 1985 excavation there produced something unexpected: a large group of terracotta relief plaques, several dozen of them, showing biblical scenes and figures with Latin inscriptions, dated to around the fifth and sixth centuries. Nothing quite like them is known elsewhere, and their interpretation is still argued over. The plaques are shown in the town museum.

The main sights

• The terracotta icons - relief plaques with biblical scenes and Latin inscriptions.
• The hilltop fortress - the walls and remains of the occupied site.
• The town museum - where the plaques themselves are displayed.
• The disputed reading - the continuing argument over what the plaques were for.

When to go

April to October is the season. The museum keeps limited hours and should be checked. The hill is exposed and hot in summer.

Practical notes

The plaques are in the town museum, not on the hill, and the two need separate visits. Museum opening is limited. Interpretation at the fortress is minimal.

Nearby

Vinica town is below, and Bargala is southwest.

Key facts