Villa Romana del Casale
Villa Romana del Casale
Italy · Sicily, Enna, Piazza Armerina
In brief
The villa near Piazza Armerina is known for its extensive mosaic floors preserved in place. Numerous excavation campaigns have revealed the baths and later phases of use alongside the residence.
What was found?
- 1Great Hunt mosaic
The mosaic covering the long corridor depicts the capture of wild animals from different regions for spectacles in Roman amphitheaters. It visually documents the procurement of animals behind these spectacles.
- 2Women athletes mosaic
The mosaic in the room known as Palestrite shows women engaging in sports. It is a tangible example of the representation of women's athletic activities in Roman visual culture.
- 3Late Antique villa buildings
This is a group of buildings comprising reception, administrative, residential, and service areas. It shows that accommodation, administration, and social representation were carried out together at the center of a large agricultural estate.
- 4Defensive structural modifications
Excavations identified thickened perimeter walls and blocked openings in the aqueduct connected to the baths. These document the villa's adaptation to defensive needs in later periods.
What does it point to?
Casale shows how the wealth of large landed estates was reflected in residential architecture and mosaics. Structural modifications reveal that this magnificent center was transformed over time to meet different needs.
What did it teach us?
- It showed that a rural Roman villa could also serve as a center of administration and representation.
- The mosaics documented the capture of animals for amphitheater spectacles and women's athletic activities.
- The excavations revealed that luxurious residences could later be adapted for defensive purposes.
Images

Record
- Culture
- Roman
- Team / historical
- Patrizio Pensabene / Sapienza University of Rome
- Coordinates
- 37.3661°, 14.3342°
Sources
- whc.unesco.org
- bmcr.brynmawr.edu
- iris.unict.it
- Casale Roma Villası Arkeoloji Parkı — Villa
- Casale Roma Villası Arkeoloji Parkı — Büyük Av
- Casale Roma Villası Arkeoloji Parkı — Kadın atletler
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- Skorba Prehistoric Site 161 km
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- Għar Dalam Cave 171 km
- —
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- 12.000
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All excavation sites (395)
Türkiye
- Acemhöyük
- Aizanoi
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- Alacahöyük
- Amos
- Ani
- Aphrodisias
- Arslantepe Mound
- Aspendos
- Assos
- Ayanis Fortress
- Aşıklı Höyük
- Barcın Höyük
- Blaundus
- Boncuklu Höyük
- Can Hasan I
- Carchemish
- Claros Sanctuary
- Clazomenae
- Domuztepe
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- Euromus
- Gordion
- Göbekli Tepe
- Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia
- Hattusha
- Hierapolis
- Iasos
- Kaman-Kalehöyük
- Karahantepe
- Karatepe-Aslantaş
- Kaunos
- Kibyra
- Knidos
- Kültepe-Kanesh
- Laodicea on the Lycus
- Letoon Sanctuary
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- Magnesia on the Maeander
- Medieval City of Beçin
- Metropolis in Ionia
- Miletus
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- Oymaağaç Höyük — Nerik
- Patara
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- Priene
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- Sapinuwa
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- Sayburç
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- Tell Atchana – Alalakh
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- Troy
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- Yenikapı – Theodosian Harbour Excavations
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- Yumuktepe
- Zerzevan Castle
- Zeugma
- Zincirli Höyük — Sam'al
- Çatalhöyük
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- Çayönü
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