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Built in the early ages of the 4th century AD, Villa Romana del Casale represents an unequivocal sign of both Roman mastery and opulence. About three kilometers outside the town of Piazza Armerina, this historic construction was built on the remnants of an older villa.

Villa Romana del Casale has an inherent art display that brings about the acknowledgement of the UNESCO World Heritage. Though early excavations attempts (the 19th century) revealed some of the columns and mosaics, it is only after 1929/ 1935-39/ 1950-60 successive episodes of excavation that the Villa was fully uncovered. What the building displayed was only the most amazing model of mosaic decoration art (that appears to have African roots as the mastery of the early ages of the 4th century AD was African): the floors, covered with wonderful mosaic designs that grew famous all over the world, reveal various aspects of Roman life. Examples are the Corridor of the Great Hunt or Chamber of the Ten Maidens (informally, the Bikini Room). All artistic expressions discovered inside this immense Roman testimony display the gist of the Roman occupations, methods and techniques. For example, the Bikini Room generously offers specific details on women athletic manifestations: exercising, running or receiving the crown for winning an athletic competition.

The Villa basically leads the way towards knowledge upon an extraordinary realm that invites specialists to decode.
The overall plan of the building resided in several key factors, such as anterior constructions, the slope on which it was built, the direction of the sun and the winds. No elements were left to hazard’s prerogatives. Rigorous techniques are liable for the construction of a mesmerizing, multifunctional, life-depicting complex building that justifiably got to UNESCO’s embracement.

The whole complex is rather unusual. The plan sighted three axes which led to following arrangements: the occupation of the higher ground (East)by the Great Basilica, private apartments and the Corridor of the Great Hunt, followed by the Peristyle, guest rooms, the entrance area, the Elliptical Peristyle and triclinium on the middle ground, while thermal baths occupy the lower ground (West). Despite the strange construction plan, the building appears to have been built simultaneously, and not in different stages, as such a multilateral construction plan could easily imply.

Ancient walls of the outbuildings, the cupid figure on the bathroom floor, geometric mosaic patterns with ovals and Greek key borders, laurel wreaths, images of chariot racings, bird hunters, and details of fish and lovers mosaics are only few examples of elements that gradually depict the course of Roman life. The hard part has been done. Contemporary specialists’ task is to even more accurately dig in the Roman universe.

Still, despite all successful research efforts, the Villa Romana del Casale keeps its secrets so deeply hidden, that not even erudites can enable an exhaustive universe.