The Unesco-listed Villa Romana del Casale is central Sicily's biggest attraction, having reopened after years of reconstruction. It is decorated with the finest Roman floor mosaics in existence. The mosaics cover almost the entire floor of the villa and are considered unique for their natural, narrative style, the range of their subject matter and variety of colour.
Situated in a wooded valley 5km southwest of the town centre, the villa, sumptuous even by decadent Roman standards, is thought to have been the country retreat of Marcus Aurelius Maximianus, Rome's co-emperor during the reign of Diocletian (AD 286–305). Certainly, the size of the complex – four interconnected groups of buildings spread over the hillside – and the 3535 sq metres of multicoloured floor mosaics suggests a palace of imperial standing.
Following a landslide in the 12th century, the villa lay under 10m of mud for some 700 years, and was thus protected from the damaging effects of air, wind and rain. It was only when serious excavation work began in the 1950s that the mosaics were brought back to light.
The recent restoration covered almost the entire complex with a wooden roof, to protect the mosaics from the elements. There is an elevated walkway that allows visitors to view the mosaics and the structure in its entirety. Architects report a dissatisfaction with the structure for the lack of light, and the shadows that obscure the colours and vivacity of the mosaics, but the condition of the mosaics has been much improved. The challenge of further deterioration of the entire villa remains to be battled, but it's a pleasure to be able to enjoy this marvellous site once again.
