Built in the 4th century AD, the glorious villa Romana del Casale is situated close to the town of Piazza Armerina in Sicily where a famous Palio is also hosted every year. It was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1997 as it is the home of the most elaborate, extensive and best preserved original Roman mosaics in the world!
Stay at a scenic villa rental in Sicily for your holiday and enjoy fun filled days of exploring this island of beauty and tourist attractions like the Villa Romana del Casale
The villa was built on the remains on an earlier villa and for many years, it was a successful agricultural estate surrounded by a large stretch of land. A village grew around this prosperous villa and estate dues to the growth of its economic importance.
Stay at a scenic villa rental in Sicily for your holiday and enjoy fun filled days of exploring this island of beauty and tourist attractions like the Villa Romana del Casale
The villa was built on the remains on an earlier villa and for many years, it was a successful agricultural estate surrounded by a large stretch of land. A village grew around this prosperous villa and estate dues to the growth of its economic importance.
Unfortunately, the Villa Romana del Casale suffered a lot of damage during territorial battles in later years and was entirely abandoned in the 12th century when it was covered by a devastating landslide. In the late 19th century, the site was excavated and once more, the stunning mosaics that were buried underground for so long were finally seen by human eyes again.
Experts believe this villa would have been owned and run by a very wealthy member of the Roman Empire’s very upper class. The villa covers a vast area and is built up of rooms dedicated to business, residential and leisure. Outer buildings would have been used to house slaves and other lowly paid farm workers but as they would have been built of a much less study material, no remains of them exist.
Experts believe this villa would have been owned and run by a very wealthy member of the Roman Empire’s very upper class. The villa covers a vast area and is built up of rooms dedicated to business, residential and leisure. Outer buildings would have been used to house slaves and other lowly paid farm workers but as they would have been built of a much less study material, no remains of them exist.
See some of the colourful frescoes that decorate the walls and floors of Villa Romana del Casale. Be sure to see a few in particular called ‘Chamber of the ten maidens’ and ‘The little hunt’.
Tourists would also be interested to see the very well preserved remains of the ancient Roman heating system here, used to heat the water for steam rooms and hot pools.
So come and see this amazing archaeological site for yourself and read about other UNESCO sites in Italy!
Tourists would also be interested to see the very well preserved remains of the ancient Roman heating system here, used to heat the water for steam rooms and hot pools.
So come and see this amazing archaeological site for yourself and read about other UNESCO sites in Italy!
Photo credits
picture 1: Kentongreening / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Jerzy Strzelecki / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Disdero / CC BY-SA 2.5
picture 1: Kentongreening / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Jerzy Strzelecki / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Disdero / CC BY-SA 2.5