Largest Roman Mosaic Opens to the Public in Rome
Rome has unveiled an extraordinary Roman-era mosaic, the largest of its kind ever unearthed. Located beneath the Baths of Trajan, this monumental artwork includes the "Painted City" fresco and "Muse and the Philosopher" mosaic. Public access started with viewings on September 12 and 13, followed by additional dates beginning October 2, now available Fridays through Sundays for groups of 15. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri announced this development via Instagram. Archaeologist Francesco Pacetti highlighted its historical significance, noting its origins in the first century and its depiction of a fortified port city. An accompanying museum has also opened, funded by a €500 million EU initiative.
Key facts
- The largest Roman mosaic ever discovered has opened to the public in Rome.
- The mosaic and a fresco were found in the 1990s beneath the Baths of Trajan.
- The works are known as the “Painted City” fresco and the “Muse and the Philosopher” mosaic.
- Public viewings are on weekends, initially for groups of 15, with expanded hours from 2 October.
- The first visitors saw the site on 12 and 13 September.
- The mosaic is ten metres high and 16 metres long, located beneath the Oppian Hill near the Colosseum.
- The fresco and mosaic are thought to date from the first century, in the Neronian or Flavia era.
- An on-site museum about the Baths of Trajan opened earlier this month, funded by the EU's €500m PNRR-Caput Mundi programme.
Entities
Artists
- Roberto Gualtieri
- Francesco Pacetti
- Trajan
- Nero
- Apollodorus of Damascus
- Emperor Trajan
- Emperor Nero
- Claudio Parisi Presicce
- Filippo Monteforte
- Nicole Winfield
- Tom Kington
- Barbie Latza Nadeau
- Ilaria Cicinelli
- Tokunbo Salako
- Sarah Kuta
Institutions
- Baths of Trajan
- CNN
- European Union
- PNRR-Caput Mundi programme
- Museum of the Baths of Trajan
- Domus Aurea
- Colossal
- Associated Press
- London Times
- Euronews
- Smithsonian Magazine
- National Air and Space Museum
- Colosseum
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Oppian Hill
- Colosseum
- Longmont
- Colorado
- North America
- New York City
- Oppio Hill
- Oppio hill