Travels in Italy--Piazza Amerina

Resuming our visit to Sicily.  We moved from the western part of the island to the eastern part. 

Our next top was the small town of Piazza Amerina and a neaby archaeological site, known as the Villa Romana Casale. 

The villa was an immense country house built in the early 300's A.D. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

An artist's rendering of the likely appearance of the villa

While not many details are known, the villa was likely built for an upper class Roman who visited the villa occasionally. The villa was richly decorated with mosaics for enjoyment of the residents and visitors invited to the estate.

The villa was the heart of a huge agricultural estate, like a plantation in Colonial America.  The estate remained in use for roughly 100 years.  Over time, it was likely pillaged and partially destroyed following the fall of the Roman empire, first by Vandals and later by Visigoths.  Some of the estate's building were still used during the Byzantine and Arab eras in Sicily. 

In the 1100's, a landslide buried the villa and it was abandoned. 

A model depicting the current state of the villa.  The model reflects the villa's ruined state.  Missing are the roof and many other architectural features.  However, the villa has been partially reconstructed.  For example, some of the columns scattered by the landslide have been re-erected.

Beginning in the 19th century, the villa was excavated.  Today, the site has been completely excavated and is covered with large wooden canopies to protect ruins, especially the mosaics.  Visitors can tour the entire villa to see both its grandeur and extensive mosaics.

Here are some photos from our visit to Villa Romana Casale. 

A view of the countryside from the villa

The Central Courtyard:  The main courtyard of the villa is large and the surrounding walkway is decorated with mosaic animal heads.

The Gymnasium:  The floor of the gymnasium is decorated with a mosaic of Circus Maximus in Rome.

Chariots racing in Circus Maximus

Decoration:  The villa is richly decorated throughout, with mosaics, marble and carvings,

A 3-dimensional design on a floor

A marble column

A Corinthian column

Hall of the Small Hunt:

Hall of the Great Hunt:

Other Features of the Villa:

The great reception hall

The Chamber of the Ten Maidens:  The floor of one room is decorated with 10 female figures engaged in an ancient pentathlon.  The figures are informally dubbed the "bikini girls" and possibly represent prostitutes, which were part of the "entertainment" for visitors. 

Thanks for visiting Villa Romana Casale with us.