In about 300 A.D., Emperor Maximilian built the imperial Roman villa of Casale — an obscenely lavish country escape — covering it wall-to-wall in some of the finest Roman mosaics found anywhere.
The villa was almost entirely forgotten, although some of the tallest parts of the remains were always above ground. The area was cultivated for crops. Early in the 19th century, pieces of mosaics and some columns were found. The first official archaeological excavations were carried out later in that century.
Here you can enjoy some of the most finest Roman mosaics anywhere. Each room has a theme. The fishing room- far from the sea, only Emperors could afford seafood. The palace is wall to wall mosaics.
The town of Piazza Armerina is also worth a visit if you are in the area. Its main sights include an Aragonese Castle built at the end of the 14th Century and an imposing 18th Century Duomo.
Roman exploitation of the countryside is symbolized by the Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily, the centre of the large estate upon which the rural economy of the Western Empire was based. The villa is one of the most luxurious of its kind. It is especially noteworthy for the richness and quality of the mosaics which decorate almost every room; they are the finest mosaics in situ anywhere in the Roman world.
Informally called “the bikini girls”, the maidens appear in a mosaic artwork which scholars named Coronation of the Winner. Another well-preserved mosaic shows a hunt, with hunters using dogs and capturing a variety of game.
This amazing Villa is on the list of UNESCO Heritage, it truly is the most Roman one and the most wonderful experience to explore. These extraordinarily vivid mosaics, probably produced by North African artisans, deal with numerous subjects. I sure you will have a great time and experience of a lifetime.
