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Villa Romana del Casale, Sicily (Where Gumbo was #272)

 

Gumbo was visiting an old Roman Villa in Sicily.  Congratulations to Professor Abe and George G who successfully solved this week's travel puzzle.

01 Villa Romana del Casale (1)

I like to visit UNESCO World Heritage sites when travel allows because they are uniformly interesting.  Villa del Casale is no exception as it has some of the best preserved and most extensive Roman mosaics anywhere.  The place is situated off the main tourist path in the central hills of Sicily and was a little hard to find, but the lovely well-preserved floor mosaics make it worth a little effort to get to.  It's about 3 km from the town of Piazza Armerina.

02 Villa Romana del Casale (7)

04 Villa Romana del Casale (13)

Villa Romana del Casale was built in late Roman Empire, around the middle of the 4th Century AD, as a hunting lodge for a wealthy Roman (whose name is unknown).  The overall architecture is similar to many villas of the era -- including courtyard, baths, private apartments, etc.  It is thought the complex was inhabited for the better part of two centuries.

03 Villa Romana del Casale (10)

Most of the decorative items in the villa, like statues, are gone, either stolen or destroyed over the ages, but the floor mosaics are surprising well preserved.  This is largely because the villa was covered by a landslide in the 12th century, protecting them for hundreds of years.  The mosaics are known for their rich color and life-like depictions of scenes from their time.

12 Villa Romana del Casale (74)

08 Villa Romana del Casale (25)

The villa was almost entirely forgotten and the area around it was used for farming.  The first excavations of the villa occurred in the 1800s when some mosaics were discovered, and the complex has undergone extensive excavation and restoration over a period of many decades lasting well into the 20th century.   A roof and an elevated walkway to observe and protect the mosaics were the final touches to the restoration.  

07 Villa Romana del Casale (53)

You enter the Villa via a long walkway from the parking area and pass several Roman features on the way to the interior, including outside arches and columns framing views of the Sicilian hills.  You get to see the mosaics as you enter the building, past the baths, a peristyle with living and guest rooms, a basilica (public hall) and a triclinium (dining area). 

05 Villa Romana del Casale (90)

06 Villa Romana del Casale (203)

Most of your viewing occurs from elevated walkways that allows access to most of the rooms in the villa -- each with a unique floor design.  Much of the light is natural and it ranges from excellent to very poor.  Some of the best mosaics were in dimly-lite rooms making them hard to photograph properly (no flash photography allowed).

13 Villa Romana del Casale (148)

09 Villa Romana del Casale (31)

Many of the mosaics are quite simple -- basic patterns, animal heads and such (it is a hunting lodge after all).  Others are more detailed including action scenes of people hunting and fishing, chariot races, battle scenes, even exotic African animals being transported by ship.   Some are quite cute, like those of children in small chariots being pulled by geese or goats. 

26 Villa Romana del Casale (221)

While the themes of the mosaics are Roman, it is thought that North Africans likely were the main craftsman of these floors. The artistic skill and thousands of man hours to assemble these beautiful mosaics will impress all.

10 Villa Romana del Casale (41)

11 Villa Romana del Casale (66)

27 Villa Romana del Casale (226)

One of the most famous mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale is the floor with the "bikini babes".  These feature women who are exercising and who seem clad in 2 piece swim suits -- likely just athletic wear from that time.  Nothing like them exists elsewhere.  

28 Villa Romana del Casale (199)
29 Villa Romana del Casale (197)

More of the mosaics from the Villa follow, including this one of two lovers...

14 Villa Romana del Casale (120)

Scenes of hunting and fishing are common, as might be expected in a hunting lodge...

15 Villa Romana del Casale (81)

16 Villa Romana del Casale (82)
17 Villa Romana del Casale (107)
18 Villa Romana del Casale (165)

Some scenes show chariot races....

20 Villa Romana del Casale (145)

Some appear to have mythical scenes....

19 Villa Romana del Casale (116)

Some of the ones I thought were most clever included aspects of trade -- a master whipping a servant (below) and transport of exotic animals...

21 Villa Romana del Casale (172)22 Villa Romana del Casale (176)23 Villa Romana del Casale (182)

24 Villa Romana del Casale (189)

25 Villa Romana del Casale (204)

A rather unique and interesting destination.  It will take a half-day to see the mosaics in a reasonably relaxed and detailed manner.  Highly recommended!

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Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

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Comments (2)

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Thanks a lot for sharing these photos. I just checked the dates on my own shots from there and was shocked to discover that they were taken 11 years ago. Needless to say, they weren't anywhere near as good as yours. I remember being particularly fascinated by the bikini-clad sportswomen and the chariots being pulled by geese. As you say, the place is well worth a visit.

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