Description
Famous for the mosaics which have been found here, this place acts as a magnet for all visitors to Sicily. Lying 4km/2.5mi southwest of Piazza Armerina, where Saracens still lived when this town was occupied by Lombards. The village of Casale and the Roman ruins which until then were still inhabitated were both destroyed in a landslide in the 12th century and were forgotten. It was not until 1929 that scientists were intrigued by finds of small mosaic fragments and decided to excavate further; in that same year and also in 1935-39 parts of a Roman villa were discovered. This villa has been systematically explored since 1950. So far the manor house with nearly 50 rooms has been uncovered and conserved, but working areas and servants' quarters still await the archeologist's trowel.
Hobbies & Activities category: Architecture - Roman, Greek, classical;  Paintings, art collections;  Manor or country house;  UNESCO World Heritage Site
Villa Romana del Casale Highlights

History

Results so far indicate that a modest building stood here in the second century, to be replaced in the third and fourth centuries by a magnificent villa, unusually large and lavishly equipped - the
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Mosaics

The mosaics cover a wide spectrum of subjects from daily and court life, mythology and hunting, as well as designs linked with the Roman custom of baiting animals in the arena, including catching,
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Peristyle

8 Tablinum with portrayal of the imperial family in the form of Adventus Augusti (to which only a reigning emperor was entitled). 9 Peristyle, the rectangular central area surrounded by Corinthian
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Peristyle - Apse

This long, rectangular room with apses at each end is about 65m/213ft long and 5m/16ft wide. In the apses can be seen personifications of Egyptians (south apse) and Armenians (north apse). Starting
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Peristyle - Basilica

Great Basilica 40 The Great Basilica is a rectangular room, semi-circular at one end, a shape reminiscent of a palastaula, and will also have performed a similar function at ceremonial receptions
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Thermal Baths

3 Ante-room with apse, honoring Aphrodite (small remains of cult pictures). 4 Frigidarium (an octagonal room, once vaulted, mosaics in the west niche: two maidservants are shown taking clothes from
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Triclinium

36 To the east of the Xystos stands the Triclinium, a square room with three apses, believed to be a dining-room. The floor mosaics deal with the Twelve Labors of Hercules (middle), the Defeat of
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Address
Villa Romana del Casale
Contrada Casale 1
Piazza Armerina
I-94015 Enna
Italy
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Closed19:0019:0019:0019:0019:0019:0019:00
Cost
Adult3.00 Euros
Child 18 & underFREE
Senior over 65FREE
Attractions Near Villa Romana del Casale, Enna, Piazza Armerina