Reconstruction of an ancient Roman bikini on basis of a mosaic from Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily, Italy

Just 3km from Piazza Armerina in the center of Sicily, an ancient Italian estate houses one of the world’s largest collections of preserved Roman mosaics.

Deep in the Sicilian countryside, a large Roman villa dating back to the early 4^th century AD offers a glimpse into Late Antiquity luxury through colorful mosaics and frescoes canvassing the grounds in some of Italy’s best-preserved artwork. Though its origins are shrouded in mystery, the Villa Romana del Casale is a historic guide into the lives of its aristocratic owners, their love of lavish beauty, and the elite pleasures of the High Empire.

The impressive estate was originally constructed upon 22 acres of land in the Province of Enna, Sicily, where small communes and farmlands are situated in the highlands of the southern island’s tallest plateau. The property, surrounded by stunning natural beauty, is believed to have been an agricultural estate before it was transformed into an elaborate villa adorned with Roman artistry. Scholars have speculated that its owner may have had imperial or aristocratic roots, though the actual identity of the villa’s master will likely never be discovered.

The villa’s impressive size made it a gathering spot for locals and foreigners, who celebrated and met in a number of its reception and state rooms, which are accessed through massive archways and backdropped by intricate mosaics on nearly every wall. Each semi-circular corridor is lined with expansive paintings and tilework illuminated by natural light from open courtyards nearby, where even the outdoor fountains are cemented in mosaic pavement.

The estate’s exterior is equally impressive with numerous Roman baths, marble columns, military paintings, and stately fountains, integrating architectural elegance with the simple beauty of the Sicilian landscape. In its prime, the Villa Romana del Casale was a monumental property exemplifying the wealth and prestige of its owner with no absence of color and grandiosity.

One of the largest and most formal rooms in the villa is the Basilica, a grand hall with marble-paneled floors and columns made of pink Egyptian granite. Visitors can walk upon the remains of its decorated floors, though more perfectly preserved sections are inaccessible to the general public. A tour of the Roman Basilica places visitors under the same roof where some of Italy’s most prominent figures once gathered for diplomatic affairs and ornate parties.

Several rooms in the villa are decorated with less formal and more entertaining mosaics depicting scenes of mythological tales, hunting expeditions, athletic competitions, and other pastimes that the owner likely enjoyed. Around 1960, the “Room of Gymnasts” was excavated, uncovering an elaborate mosaic in fantastic condition of female athletes. These women are depicted while running, weightlifting, and partaking in several Olympic sports while clad in what appear to be bikinis quite similar to modern bathing suits, giving scholars insight into the athletic fashion of the early Middle Ages.

Another mosaic depicts the capture and transportation of small and big game after a successful hunt, likely revealing a favored hobby of the villa’s affluent owner. The intricate tiles colorfully depict elephants, lions, rabbits, and oxen with gradience highlighting the shades of their fur and their muscle in motion. From a distance, the tilework blends together to create a seamless portrait, but up close, its painstaking artistry is unveiled from miniscule pieces of colored ceramic laboriously placed side by side.

In 1997, the Villa Romana del Casale was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it houses one of the richest and most extensive collections of Roman mosaics in the world. Though a lesser-known cultural attraction overshadowed by Italy’s capital cities and tourist spots, Villa Romana del Casale is a historic treasure in a country defined by its imperial roots and artistic innovation.

To tour the ancient estate is to step back into a time of conquest, colonization, and cultural expansion in the very heart of one of Italy’s most diverse and aesthetically rich regions. A true embodiment of Roman rule, architectural revolution, and antiquitous artistry, Villa Romana del Casale serves as a lasting memorial of the Roman Empire and the wonders it left behind.