Roman Mosaic

Dating back to the 4th century AD, this magnificent mosaic is believed to have been part of a luxurious rural villa. Made of precious colored tesserae, it decorates a large rectangular room thought to be a reception hall, characterized by a design of large floral rosettes reminiscent of North African motifs. An adjoining room, in contrast, features a star pattern formed by eight diamonds and squares, along with the recurrent "Solomon's Knot" motif.

The mosaic is composed of tiny tesserae in yellow, red, blue, white, and black, meticulously arranged to decorate a large rectangular room interpreted as a reception hall. The decoration features large floral rosettes reminiscent of North African designs, framed by a band of ogival arches. The smaller adjoining room, meanwhile, has a design based on stars formed by eight diamonds and squares, along with the recurring motif of the "Solomon's Knot." The two rooms were likely separated by movable elements, such as curtains or panels, a common practice in antiquity.

Discovered in the late 19th century and uncovered and restored in the 1920s, no further remains of the complex housing this beautiful mosaic have been found. However, archaeologists believe that the villa likely extended beneath much of the current historic center. It is fascinating to imagine that, one day, new findings might emerge, shedding more light on the history of this ancient site.