World Heritage Identification Number: 832
World Heritage since: 1997
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇮🇹 Italy
Continent: Europe
UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America
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The Magnificent Villa Romana del Casale: A Glimpse into the Luxurious Life of the Late Roman Empire
The Villa Romana del Casale, situated approximately 3 kilometers from the town of Piazza Armerina in Sicily, stands as a testament to the opulence and grandeur of the late Roman Empire. This magnificent villa or palace, excavated since the 1920s, offers a unique insight into the lifestyle of the wealthy aristocrats who once resided there during the early 4th century AD. In recognition of its historical significance and the exceptional quality of its mosaics, the Villa Romana del Casale was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Roman exploitation of the countryside is symbolized by the Villa Romana del Casale (in Sicily), the centre of the large estate upon which the rural economy of the Western Empire was based. The villa is one of the most luxurious of its kind. It is especially noteworthy for the richness and quality of the mosaics which decorate almost every room; they are the finest mosaics in situ anywhere in the Roman world.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (i), (ii) and (iii), considering that the Villa del Casale at Piazza Armerina is the supreme example of a luxury Roman villa, which graphically illustrates the predominant social and economic structure of its age. The mosaics that decorate it are exceptional for their artistic quality and invention as well as their extent.
Encyclopedia Record: Villa Romana del Casale
The Villa Romana del Casale is a large and elaborate Roman villa or palace located about 3 km from the town of Piazza Armerina, Sicily. Excavations have revealed Roman mosaics which, according to the Grove Dictionary of Art, are the richest, largest and most varied collection that remains, for which the site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The villa and its artwork date to the early 4th century AD.Additional Site Details
Area: 8.92 hectares
(ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
Coordinates: 37.36611 , 14.33417
Image
© modification by AlMare of photograph taken by Disdero, CC BY-SA 2.5 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
