Anda
While working on the Roman Theaters and Amphitheaters post, I was already thinking about another Roman heritage collection. This time, it’s all about Roman Mosaics.
The mosaics were very popular in Roman buildings, bathhouses, and private residences. They were made from tesserae, small colored natural stones, and glass pieces. The mosaic floors were very practical, waterproof, and easy to clean. They had a decorative role, but also to show the family’s wealth, or sometimes to advertise for a shop.
The Roman Empire was extensive, so you can find Roman mosaics across the old territories, from North Africa to the UK and from Georgia to Portugal. You’ll see some incredible art that survived over the centuries to bring us an image of life in Ancient Rome. A few of my fellow travel bloggers helped me put together this list of surviving Roman Mosaics. So, here they are!
30 Best Places to See Roman Mosaics
- Carthage (Tunisia)
- Volubilis (Morocco)
- Zeugma Mosaic Museum (Turkey)
- Ephesus (Turkey)
- The Great Palace Mosaic Museum in Istanbul (Turkey)
- Madaba (Jordan)
- Caesarea (Israel)
- Gonio Fortress (Georgia)
- Roman Mosaics Edifice in Constanta (Romania)
- Plovdiv (Bulgaria)
- Peja-Pec (Kosovo)
- Lin (Albania)
- Heraclea Lyncestis in Bitola (North Macedonia)
- Delos (Greece)
- Corinth (Greece)
- Villa Romana del Casale, Sicily (Italy)
- Nora, Sardinia (Italy)
- Terme di Caracalla in Rome (Italy)
- Capo di Bove, Rome (Italy)
- Ostia Antica (Italy)
- Pompeii (Italy)
- Herculaneum (Italy)
- Naples Archaeological Museum (Italy)
- Ravenna (Italy)
- Romano-Germanic Museum in Cologne (Germany)
- Cluny Museum Paris (France)
- Italica (Spain)
- Milreu (Portugal)
- Fishbourne Roman Palace (UK)
- Littlecote Roman Villa, Berkshire (UK)
Amazing Roman Mosaics in North Africa
Carthage (Tunisia)
By Nichola at Globalmouse Travels
Carthage lies beside the sea in modern Tunisia and was once the capital city of the ancient Carthaginian area. It’s a wonderful place to wander with a whole selection of remains from fallen pillars to ancient baths, villas, theaters, and inscriptions, all overlooking the sparkling sea. There are also several notable mosaics here. The most famous of them (now removed and in the nearby Bardo Museum) is probably the mosaic of Dominus Julius, a fourth-century floor detail. It provides a fantastic insight into daily life here.
At the Carthage National Museum, you can also see some Roman mosaics, including the Lady of Carthage mosaic from the 6th century. On-site in Carthage, you can wander through the empty hallways and spot fantastic mosaic floor tiles everywhere. To see the tiny detail that went into creating these mere walkways and imagining the hands that placed each of the tiles is awe-inspiring. Being able to walk across these same floors freely is an amazing experience. The remains at Carthage are very cheap to enter at just 10 DT (about 3€) and open year-round. There are some fantastic family hotels in Tunis to stay in, very close to Carthage if you want to spend more than one day in the area.
The Exquisite Roman Mosaics at Volubilis (Morocco)
By Eva from Not Scared of the Jetlag
Just a short drive from Fes or Meknes, Volubilis is an easily accessible UNESCO world heritage site in Morocco.
Volubilis was part of the Roman empire from around 40 to 300 AD. In this time, it grew to a decent size city. The bigger structures were lost over time, looted, and destroyed in an earthquake in the 18th century.
In the northeastern part of the city, in the houses of the rich, almost every floor has a beautiful mosaic. Excavations and restorations started around 1915, and even though there is almost no protection to the site, everything is extremely well preserved.
You can find mosaics featuring Dionysos and Ariadne, Diana taking a bath, and lots of animals and geometrical patterns. Despite the distance from the coast, there are quite a few mosaics featuring fish and dolphins. One of the more famous mosaics is a picture of a man riding backward on a donkey, named The Acrobat.
You can find one of the biggest and probably the most impressive mosaic in the house of Orpheus. It features wild animals, from elephants to tigers and monkeys.
The site is open from 8:30 AM until around one hour before dusk. Non-Moroccans pay 70 MAD (about 6.50) for adults and 30 MAD (roughly 3) for children. You can hire a guide on site.
While you’re in the area, look into a Morocco Desert Tour and maybe extend your stay to discover more of the country.
Stunning Roman Mosaics in the Middle East
Zeugma Mosaic Museum (Turkey)
By Roxanne from Faraway Worlds
The largest mosaic museum in the world is in Gaziantep, Turkey, showcasing mosaics from the ancient city of Zeugma.
About 10km out of Gaziantep, on the banks of the Euphrates River, Seleucus I Nicator, a general in Alexander the Great’s army, founded Zeugma. Several Roman villas with well-preserved floor mosaics have been found in the city.
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum is open since 2011 to display these mosaics. It has over 3000 square meters of mosaics on display from the Roman and Eastern Roman periods.
Many mosaics depict detailed mythological scenes, including the famous Gypsy Girl and Dionysus mosaics. There are also many floor mosaics from churches belonging to the Eastern Roman period, coming from Gaziantep and its surroundings.
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum is usually open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM during the summer and 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM in the winter. The entrance fee is 30 Turkish lira (about 3.2€).
The Mosaics at Ephesus (Turkey)
By Paul, at Anywhere We Roam
Originally a Greek City built in the 10th century BC, Ephesus became a place of prominence after the Roman Emperor Augustus came to power in 27 BC. He named it the capital of Roman Asia Minor and encouraged money and power to flood the city. This sparked remarkable construction makes Ephesus one of the most fascinating historical places in Turkey.
The wealthy and the elite moved to Ephesus to live in lavishly appointed terrace houses. These Roman homes were partially destroyed by an earthquake in the 3rd century AD, but the remains are in exceptional condition. Today, they are one of the best places to see Roman mosaics. As was common at the time, many of the mosaics display the balance between mythology and aesthetics. Artemis – the Greek goddess of hunting, wild nature, and chastity – is part of the mosaic, as are mystical and earthly creatures.
Ephesus is located near Selçuk in Turkey and is open from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM (April to October), and 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (November to March). You can book your ticket and audioguide online.
The Great Palace Mosaic Museum in Istanbul (Turkey)
By Nicholas from Rambling Feet
Once upon a time, Istanbul was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. It had some of the most amazing architecture, including the Hagia Sophia and a palace for Constantine the Great that occupied the area now known as Sultanahmet.
While the church remains an icon of the city formerly known as Constantinople, hardly anything remains of the Great Palace. A small portion of its ruins is visible in the Great Palace Mosaics Museum in the Arasta Bazaar next to the Blue Mosque. The rest, unfortunately, is still under the mosque and the bazaar.
The museum’s floor is what remains of a large peristyle courtyard remains. You can view it from raised walkways. It is decorated with mosaics that feature naturalistic depictions of plants, animals, and hunting scenes. Many of them are in good condition. Its sheer significance, through its close association with the Byzantine emperors, makes it worth a stop, and you can devote an hour of your Istanbul itinerary to this.
The museum opens daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM ( or to 5.30 PM in the summer), and an adult ticket costs 30 TL (roughly 3€).
The Gorgeous Roman Mosaics in Madaba (Jordan)
By Maartje from The Orange Backpack
Jordan might not be the first place you would think of for Roman mosaics. But, the area was one of the more remote outposts of the Roman Empire, leaving many marks around the country. The ancient city of Jerash is the most well-known of them, but the town of Madaba has some beautiful traces as well.
Madaba is 30 kilometers south of the Jordan capital, not far from the airport and the famous Death Sea. Most visitors just use it as a base to visit other sights in the area, but enjoying the mosaics is a must-do, as well.
The Madaba mosaics are a mix of Roman and religious influences. Ancient religious events, which eventually spread to the rest of the Roman empire, took place in this area. One of the mosaics is a map of the Holy Land, another one of Old Jerusalem. The mosaics are everywhere around the city, but you should for sure visit the Madaba Archeological Park with the Roman batch mosaics and the Church of St. George.
We recommend buying the Jordan Pass. Those kinds of tourist passes are normally not worth their money, but this one is for sure. It’s already worth it when visiting the famous Petra and buying your visa – which are both included. In addition, it also includes most Madaba attractions and many more around the country.
Ancient Caesarea (Israel)
By Nisha at Le Monde – the Poetic Travels
Caesarea Maritima was founded over 2000 years ago by Herod the Great. He chose a location on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, about 60 km north of Tel Aviv. It quickly became the Roman capital of the province of Judaea.
Caesarea sports all the famous hallmarks of a Roman city. A fort, hippodrome, an open-air auditorium, and an aqueduct. The archaeologists have also unearthed amazing Roman mosaics on the floors of the port area. These were probably part of villas that existed a long time back.
These mosaics are absolutely beautiful. Just imagining that these are anywhere between 1800 and 2000 years old gives you the goosebumps. There are bird mosaics located in probably the central courtyard of a house (which is no more). Flowers and animals frame the square mosaic. Then there is one mosaic with geometric patterns right next to the sea.
There are many more mosaics of all shapes and sizes. Caesarea is definitely a must-visit if you are in Israel.
Roman Mosaics to visit – Eastern Europe
Gonio Fortress (Georgia)
By Baia from Red Fedora Diary
Gonio Fortress, formerly known as Apsaros, is a Roman citadel on the Black Sea coast of the Adjara region in western Georgia. During the 2nd century AD, Gonio Fortress was a well-protected Roman city and a military stronghold within the Kingdom of Colchis, an exonym of a Georgian political entity.
Visiting Gornio is possible as a day trip from Batumi, as it’s only 15km away. The fortress covered over 4 hectares of land. Today, it is still a well-preserved citadel. You can explore its ancient walls, towers, and remains of the dwellings, public baths, and water reservoirs, to name a few.
A few years back, archeologists discovered a unique ancient Roman mosaic supposedly dating back to Emperor Vespasian’s reign during 69-79 AD. The mosaic found on the floor of a bath features geometric shapes and covers around 100 sq. meters. Archeologists believe that such luxurious bathhouse floor finishings are rare in military fortresses.
The fortress is open daily from 10:00 AM till 6:00 PM. The ticket costs 5 GEL which is about 1.25€.
Roman Mosaics Edifice in Constanta (Romania)
By Arabela at The Spicy Travel Girl
Located right by Romania’s charming Black Sea coast, Constanta is a scenic southeastern European city with an extensive Roman past. The city was first founded in 600 BC under the name Tomis. It became most notable for being the exile of the famous Roman poet Ovid. Thanks to its historical significance, it’s no wonder that Constanta is the home to numerous ancient relics. The Roman Mosaics Edifice in the heart of the Old City Center is no exception.
The Roman Mosaics Edifice in Constanta is home to a large collection of mosaic floors spread across three floors with a cumulative surface area of around 600 square meters. In ancient times, the beautiful mosaics ornated the port city’s large commercial hall. Nowadays, they are some of the best-preserved Roman relics in the area. You can take rounds around the hall on all three floors to admire the artwork from different angles.
The Roman Mosaics Edifice is open all day for visitors. Its location right next to the city’s iconic Ovid Square in the neighborhood of various restaurants, pubs, and tourist attractions makes it an unmissable spot for couples, families, and solo female travelers in Constanta alike.
TrakArt in Plovdiv (Bulgaria)
By Anda from Travel for a while
Plovdiv is the oldest city in Europe and part of its existence was called Philippopolis or Trimontium, the capital of the Roman province of Thracia. The city has uncovered many vestiges of the Roman era, like the Forum, the Stadium, and the Theater.
Another interesting find dating back to Roman times is the Eirene residence. The house was built in the 3rd century AD, then expanded towards the 5th century. It had an open courtyard (a peristyle) at the center, and the floors were decorated with beautiful mosaics.
The most impressive mosaic had Eirene, the goddess of peace, at the center of a residential room. Flowers and geometrical figures and mosaics decorate the pavement of the other rooms.
The house was accidentally discovered during construction work on an underpass. Since 2003, the restored mosaic floors are open for visitors as part of the TrakArt complex.
You can visit TrakArt Cultural Center every day from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. During the winter months (November to March) the museum closes one hour earlier. The entrance costs 8 BGN which is about 4€.
Peja-Pec (Kosovo)
By Jyoti from Story at Every Corner
Roman ruins and mosaic designs in Kosovo are little known outside Roman archeological societies. But as excavations continue, they discover more about the Roman occupation in this region and how the Romans valued the local minerals. Many large settlements appeared all over Kosovo, so it became clear that Kosovo was a very important area for the Romans.
We visited a site not too far from Peja-Pec. It’s not open to the public yet. It was closed on a weekend evening, so we strolled around with our guide.
The most impressive sight is the massive flat section, securely covered with plastic and pebbles. Beneath the covers is probably the largest preserved Roman tile design – about 200 square meters in size! By the extensive designs, some believe it would be part of a palace. Much needs to be investigated to learn the story someday.
The site was likely built in the 2nd century AD. Back then, a river flew near the site. That explains the many structures around the site. The river would have been a water source, but also used for transportation. The many Roman ruins all around indicate the presence of an important business town, maybe at a scale similar to Pompeii.
Basilica in Lin (Albania)
By Leyla at Women on the Road
High in the hills of Albania, overlooking the blue waters of Lake Ohrid, lies the village of Lin. It is a prosperous little place with a few scattered hotels and restaurants and a breathtaking lake view.
Walk up to the top of town, following the Basilika signs, and you might see a locked gate with a phone number provided. Call the number, and a guard will show up, or if you’d rather, look around for some children, who often play nearby. Point to the enclosure and make a key-turning gesture. They’ll go fetch him.
Inside the enclosure, you’ll see the floor – because that’s all that’s left of this Early Christian basilica – covered in incredibly well-preserved mosaics from the 4th or 5th century AD.
The church has an atrium, a nave, and two aisles, as well as several tombs and two cisterns. It appears to reflect two different periods, an earlier church – which may have burned down – which could date back to the third century AD.
The mosaics were uncovered in the late 1960s and are now protected by UNESCO’s World Heritage List, covering the entire Lake Ohrid region.
Heraclea Lyncestis in Bitola (North Macedonia)
By Emily from Wander-Lush
Bitola, North Macedonia’s second-largest city, is one of the best places to see Roman Mosaics in the Balkans.
First founded in the mid-4th century by Philip II of Macedon and later ruled by the Romans, it was known as Heraclea Lyncestis for the first part of its history. The archaeological site by the same name, located an easy stroll south of the present-day city center, contains partially excavated ruins, including a magnificent Roman theater.
The main focus is on the 5th-century floor mosaics, part of an Early Christian Basilica. Laid according to the opus sectile (cut and inlay) technique, they contain geometric and anamorphic figures, many inspired by Biblical stories. You can see friezes of bountiful pomegranate trees, frolicking deer, and lions and bulls locked in battle, all contained within ornate geometric borders. The largest mosaic measures 100m across.
Because of the variety of colors used (27 shades of stone in total), Bitola’s are considered the second ‘richest’ mosaics of their kind in the world after those found at Pompeii.
The Heraclea Lyncestis site is relatively new, with some mosaics unearthed as recently as the 1970s. It’s open daily from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM, and since it’s all outdoors, it’s advisable to avoid visiting in the middle of the day. The entrance costs 120 MKD (around 2€).
Delos (Greece)
By Ucman from Brown Boys Travels
Delos is a paradise for lovers of Greek mythology, Hellenistic, and Roman art in Greece. This small island is so important because most of the surviving mosaics in Greece are here or came from Delos.
Delos was an important trade hub and a rich port, which also had the honor to be the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Most of the mosaics here date from the 2nd and 1st century BC.
It is right next to the famous Mykonos, and you can only visit Delos on a ferry as a half-day trip from Mykonos. The return ferry trip costs about 20€, and the entrance to the island is another 12€.
The mosaics in Delos are everywhere: from places of worship to private homes, and most of them are intricately made. The best ones can be seen in the museum on the island, which is also hosting the Nexian lions. The detailed mosaics are incredibly vivid, and they will transport you to an era when this place was very rich, and people believed in surrounding themselves with beautiful art.
For any mosaics and art lover, Delos is a must-visit.
Ancient Corinth
By Monique at Trip Anthropologist
Ancient Corinth was the greatest of the Greek city-states, wealthy and powerful. Today it is an entire ruined city only an hour or two from Athens and with an imposing Acrocorinth towering above it. The Temple of Apollo is the most impressive of the many monuments still standing and dates from the 4th century BC.
You can wander through the ancient city and there is a small but important museum at the center of the archaeological zone.
Inside the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth are four mosaics coming from the wealthy Roman villas. All mosaics are important and rich in intricate and symbolic patterns and techniques. The most famous of these mosaics is decorated with a medal that bears the head of the God Dionysus. It is the central panel of a villa floor. A pattern of triangles surrounds the face of Dionysus. It dates back to the 2nd century AD.
Quite often you will have the whole museum, and sometimes, the whole site, to yourself. The entrance fee to the archaeological zone is 8€, or 6€ for concession holders. It also includes the entrance to the museum.
Incredible Roman Mosaic in Italy
Villa Romana del Casale, Sicily (Italy)
By Talek from Travels with Talek
In southeastern Sicily, in the town of Piazza Armeria, you will find an ancient Roman villa sheltering some of the most beautiful and well-preserved Roman mosaics in the world.
Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a 4th-century palace that was once the headquarters and home for the local Roman rulers. Throughout the centuries, the villa suffered damages and declined in importance until a landslide buried it in the 12th century.
Excavations and restorations took place in the 19th and 20th centuries. Fortunately for the mosaics, the mud from the landslide protected them, and they emerged relatively intact.
Today the Villa is one of the major tourist attractions in the area along with the Valley of the Temples in nearby Agrigento. The Villa is open daily from 9:00 AM, but closing time varies with the day and season, so check beforehand. Tickets are 10€, and admission is free every first Sunday of the month.
Nora, Sardinia (Italy)
By Megan at Megan Starr
One of the best places to see a Roman mosaic (and a beautiful one at that!) is in Nora, Sardinia. Nora was the site of a punic-Roman town near Pula in the south of the island. In this area teeming with ancient ruins, you will find Roman baths, temples, and, of course, many colorful Roman mosaics. Nora is also the site where the oldest known inscription on the island was located, even containing Phoenician characters!
Mosaics decorate the houses, temples, and baths at the archaeological site. Experts estimate that these ornate floors date back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, the time when the area was run by Roman emperors. The floors are colorful, but the main colors you will see are ochre, black, and white with various designs from flowers to circles.
Visiting the Nora mosaics is one of the best things to do in Cagliari if you’re visiting the largest city in Sardinia. You can visit the archaeological site in a few ways. Some travelers arrive from a cruise excursion. Others may book an organized tour from one of the larger cities in Sardinia. Or, you can rent a car and drive there yourself.
The entrance fees for Nora vary throughout the year, as do the times. But, it is open year-round, and tickets are currently 6€ for adults in high season. If you wish to visit Torre di Coltellazzo, it is an extra 2€. If you’re visiting only the tower, the ticket price is 2.50€.
The Roman Mosaics at the Terme of Caracalla (Italy)
By Anda from Travel for a while
One of the lesser-known treasures of Rome is the Terme di Caracalla complex. Most first-timers in Rome don’t even know about this wonderful insight into life in Ancient Rome. However, you can easily incorporate a visit to the Baths of Caracalla in your Rome itinerary, as it is just a short walk away from the Colosseum.
This is the site of an ancient Thermae. The spa complex was finished by Emperor Caracalla in 216 AD. The Romans invented the concept of a SPA, and visiting Terme di Caracalla will make you understand just how important such a place was in the Roman culture.
It was more than a place for bathing. Romans came here to relax, exercise, and meet other people.
The structure is grand, and you can imagine just how imposing it must have been. The various parts of the spa complex had mosaic-covered floors, marble columns, and statues.
The colored mosaics were generally abstract, but the black and white ones represented mostly marine life. Some of the most beautiful Roman mosaics from Terme di Caracalla are now at the Vatican Museums.
A ticket to the Baths of Caracalla costs 8€, and the hours vary throughout the year. If you want to learn more about life in Ancient Rome you can join a guided tour.
Capo di Bove, Rome (Italy)
By Anda from Travel for a while
On the outskirts of Rome, on the ancient Appian Way, the Capo di Bove archaeological complex isn’t usually on the Rome tourist attractions list for first-timers in the city.
However, the Appian Way is an excellent historic walk, which will take you directly to Ancient Rome. Capo di Bove complex, close to Appia Antica Caffè, displays the remains of private thermal baths. The villa belonged to Herodes Atticus in the 2nd century AD, the same man that had the Odeon on the Acropolis of Athens built.
The property was bought by the Italian Government in 2002, and it is now free to visit. They brought to light the rooms of a classic Roman thermae: a hot bath (caldarium), a warm bath (tepidarium), and the cold bath (frigidarium). The rooms had beautiful Roman mosaics, and some of them are well preserved.
The main building of the villa now hosts exhibitions and events. There is also an annex building where you can stop for facilities or just for a break on your walk on Via Appia Antica.
The Roman Mosaics in Ostia Antica (Italy)
By Anda from Travel for a while
Ostia Antica was Rome’s seaport in ancient times. As such, it developed into a large satellite of Rome. The capital of the Roman Empire depended on imports for food. They also brought things from all corners of the empire for the extravagances the rich had gone accustomed to.
Almost everything passed through the harbor of Ostia Antica before going to Rome by the river Tiber.
You can imagine some of that fervent activity when you stand in the ancient forum and observe all the merchants’ shops, all around the main square. Each shop had a mosaic floor representing what the place sold, anything from olive oil to elephants. The thermae (the bathhouse) is another place where you can admire beautiful and more elaborate mosaics. A rich mosaic representing the God of the Seas, Neptune with his trident covers the floor.
A half-day trip from Rome to Ostia Antica is enough to explore a typical Roman city. The things you see in Rome next to newer buildings remained frozen in time in Ostia Antica. Stepping on the ancient streets, you can easily imagine being in a Roman city 2000 years ago.
The archaeological park of Ostia Antica is accessible by train from Rome, and a full ticket costs 12€. Another option is to choose a guided tour of Ostia Antica.
Pompeii (Italy)
By Anda from Travel for a while
This is an obvious one. Pompeii is the most famous ancient Roman city, buried under the ashes of Mt. Vesuvius. It is a large archaeological site, a whole city uncovered, ten times as big as Ercolano Scavi Archaeological Park. You can easily spend a full day here, exploring the forum, the open houses, taverns, or the large theater. The amphitheater and the brothel are two other attractions of Pompeii.
Many of the beautiful mosaics discovered in Pompeii are now at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. However, you can still admire the Roman mosaic floors of the grand villas in Pompeii. The “cave canem” mosaic picturing a dog is probably the original for all the modern “beware of the dogs” signs. The wild animals and house dogs mosaics were not uncommon throughout Pompeii.
One of the largest houses in the city is the house of geometric mosaics. It has extensive black and white mosaic flooring representing stylized flowers, geometric figures, and labyrinth patterns.
A ticket to Pompeii is 15€ (or 20€ for a pre-booked skip-the-line ticket). You can visit Pompeii every day from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM. From November to March the archaeological park closes at 5:00 PM. You need to get there at least an hour and a half before closing time, but that won’t be enough to explore this amazing city.
It is easy to reach Pompeii from Naples by train, or if you prefer an organized tour you can join this half-day tour from Naples. Another option is an augmented reality tour of Pompeii to watch history come to life.
Herculaneum (Italy)
Herculaneum was one of the cities destroyed by the violent eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in August 79 AD. While most tourists in the area visit Pompeii close by, Herculaneum is airier. The site of Ercolano Scavi is smaller than Pompeii, but the wealthy Herculaneum is the best-preserved ancient city. The town was discovered under 20 meters of ash completely by accident while digging for a well. It was almost intact under all that debris that encapsulated Herculaneum for 17 centuries.
You can see beautiful houses, taverns, temples, and baths still standing.
Many of them have mosaic floors and walls painted in rich, warm colors. One of the most noteworthy Roman mosaics surviving is the wall mosaic of Neptune and Amphitrite. You can find it in the courtyard at the back of the House of Neptune Mosaic.
You can make your visit to Herculaneum a half-day trip from Naples. The entrance costs 13€, or you can buy a Campania 3 days ArteCard for 32€. You can use the ArteCard to visit both Herculaneum and Pompeii, free public transport as well as discounts for a few other sites. Herculaneum is open every day from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM and closes at 5:00 PM during the winter months. Buy a priority Herculaneum ticket here.
You can also join a guided tour to learn more about ancient Herculaneum.
The Roman Mosaics in Naples Archaeological Museum (Italy)
By Anda from Travel for a while
If you are interested in ancient Roman history, you shouldn’t miss the Archaeological Museum on your Naples itinerary. It is one of the most important archaeology museums in Italy. The collections include artifacts from excavations at Pompeii, Herculaneum, or Stabiae.
Among them, you can see the Alexandre Mosaic from the House of the Faun in Pompeii representing Alexander the Great. The Academy of Plato presents seven Greek philosophers dressed in classic robes. Another beautiful mosaic found in Pompeii is the Portrait of a woman. My favorite is the Travelling musicians mosaic dating from the 2nd century BC.
You should also see the rest of the museum’s collections: the Egyptian Collection, or the statues from the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. The Secret Cabinet was closed for some years because it contains erotic and sexually explicit art, but it is now open to the public.
The Archaeology Museum is open every day except Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM. A full ticket costs 10€, or 5€ if you have the Campania ArteCard.
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna (Italy)
By Dhara from It’s Not About the Miles
You can see some of the earliest famous Ravenna mosaics at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. It’s a small structure with an unpretentious exterior, right across from the imposing Basilica di San Vitale. The structure is part of the Ravenna UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Galla Placidia was the daughter of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, and she had an important political presence for most of her life. She is actually buried in Rome, not in the mausoleum she built in Ravenna.
The mausoleum dates from 425-450 AD and contains the oldest Christian mosaics in the Roman-Hellenistic style in Ravenna. The entire interior is covered in mosaics. The dome, representing the sky, is a dark blue with golden stars. Several mosaic lunettes grace the structure: one of Christ as the Good Shepherd, another of a male saint carrying a cross, and yet another of deer at a spring.
The mosaics are high quality, made of colored glass and gold leaf. The craftsmanship, colors, and designs are exquisite, making this small mausoleum a must-visit if you love ancient art.
The entrance fee of 10.50€ is a combined fee for the five mosaic sites in Ravenna that require an admission fee (the sixth is free).
Roman Mosaics to see in Western Europe
The Dionysus Mosaic at the Romano-Germanic Museum in Cologne (Germany)
By Derek and Mike from Robe Trotting
Not everyone connects the history of Germany with that of Ancient Rome. However, Cologne was a Roman city on the frontier of the empire. It stood on the mighty Rhine River at the edge of the Roman World. One of the often-overlooked treasures of Cologne is the ancient Roman mosaic at the Römisch-Germanisches Museum.
The museum itself is an artifact of history. It was built on the site of a third-century Roman villa. In 1941, an excavation at the site revealed a 70-meter mosaic of Dionysis, the God of wine. He appears drunken and surrounded by Pan, Cupid, dancers, and other figures. It dates back to the 220s and has over a million pieces of limestone, ceramics, and glass.
The mosaic is incredibly well-preserved because it was covered with remains of the villa when the city was sacked by Germanic invaders in the fourth century. This mosaic of Dionysis on the dining room floor of a former Roman villa is the best example of a Roman mosaic in northern Europe and belongs to any Cologne sightseeing agenda.
Cluny Museum in Paris (France)
By Elisa from World in Paris
The history of Paris, France, goes back to Roman times. The Roman Paris was named Lutetia, and it occupied the island of Cité, in the middle of the Seine River, and part of the Latin Quarter. Curious visitors can still find a few remarkable Roman remains in Paris like the Roman Baths.
The ancient thermal baths (known as Thermes de Cluny) are today part of the Cluny Museum. The baths were built between the centuries 1 – 2 AD. This was a place dedicated to ablutions and more activities than just washing. The baths covered 6000 m2, but today only the frigidarium remains.
You can still see the walls, vaults, statues, and beautiful Roman mosaics covering the floor. These mosaics formed beautiful and colorful compositions, mostly geometrical or floral, and give a sense of this place’s luxury in the past.
Unfortunately, there’s no protection, and people can step on the mosaics, which does not help their conservation.
Musée Cluny is located on 28 Rue du Sommerard, 75005 Paris. The closest metro stations are Cluny-La Sorbonne / Saint-Michel / Odéon. Currently, the museum is having some significant renovation works, with an opening expected for spring 2022.
The Roman Mosaics in Italica (Spain)
By Bec from Wyld Family Travel
Italica, Spain is a marvel time seems to have forgotten. Located just out of Seville, it is a brilliant place to visit for its history and epic story. The mosaics were once the masterpieces of Roman homes here.
Italica is the birthplace of two Roman Emperors: Trajan and Hadrian. More recently Italica was chosen as a film set in the Game of Thrones. Originally developed to house the veterans from the wars with Hannibal and the Carthaginians you can tell by the wide tree-lined roads that are still there, it was a bustling city back in its day. The Roman amphitheater here is also a remnant of the past that shows how big the town was. Once holding 25,000 people, it must have been a sight to see.
Amazing mosaics are still visible in the area where the houses once were. Many are uncovered and exposed to the harsh sun, but they seem to be weathering the storm well. Many are black and white in color, but some still have memories of the vibrant colors that once were the centerpiece of a home, although slightly faded.
There is one home where it seems that every floor was decorated with a different sort of mosaic. From portraits to decorative designs in what may have been the hallways, they are stunning. Considering the age of these mosaics, they have stood the test of time, the rise and the fall of the epic story that is Italica.
The Roman Ruins of Milreu (Portugal)
By Carol at Is This Even a Road
The Casa Rural de Milreu Ruins and Temple is one of the best places to see Roman mosaics. You can find these ancient Milreu Ruins in the Algarve region of Portugal in the civil parish of Estoi, about 15 km from Faro and three hours from Evora.
This National Monument was originally constructed in the 1st or 2nd century A.D.
Among the ruins of the villa, they found evidence of wine production areas, an oil press, various baths, an atrium, and a temple, all with mosaic floors. Colorful mosaics are also found on the walls of Milreu’s swimming pools and the temple podium.
Most of the mosaic designs at Milreu Roman Ruins contain a marine-life theme. Dolphins, squid, and fish line the bathing complex walls and floors. The elaborate bathing chambers include a changing area, underground heating, and a frigidarium.
A temple dedicated to a water deity sits with the crumbling apse still visible south of the villa. The building has been a place for pagan worship, then a church, and later a mosque.
The site is open daily with a break from 1 to 2 PM, and the entrance fee is only 2€.
The Mosaics at Fishbourne Roman Palace (UK)
By Tracy from UK Travel Planning
Fishbourne Roman Palace is in Fishbourne village, near Chichester in the South East region of England. It was discovered in 1960 and is the largest residential Roman building to be discovered in England. The palace was believed to have been built around 75 AD for Tiberius Claudius Togidubnus (a local King) and had over one hundred rooms.
Today, visitors can see the excavated ruins of two-thirds of the palace, including beautiful mosaic floors and the Roman formal garden, which has been replanted to its original plan. There is also a museum attached to the site, which explains the history of the palace and tells the story of the Roman invasion of Britain. Don’t miss the Cupid on a Dolphin mosaic floor, which is in remarkably good condition.
Admission charges to Fishbourne Roman Palace are 10£ (roughly 11€) for adults and 5.20£ (almost 6€) for children aged 5 – 16.
Littlecote Roman Villa, Berkshire (UK)
By Larch from The Silver Nomad
In a quiet corner of Berkshire on the grounds of the Elizabethan Littlecote House Hotel is the outstanding ruins of Littlecote Roman Villa. It is the only fully exposed Roman villa in Britain, and it also boasts the largest gatehouse ever found in a Roman villa in Britain.
The biggest attraction, however, is the magnificent mosaic of Orpheus dating back to the 4th century. The god of the underworld, Orpheus is seen surrounded by four goddesses, one for each season. There is Venus with a hind, Demeter with a bull, Persephone with a goat, and Leda with a panther.
The mosaic is one of the most impressive discovered in Britain so far and is preserved with a wooden walkway around it and a roof over the top.
It is not known what exactly the mosaic was built for, possibly just the flooring in a summer dining room or possibly for followers of Bacchus and Orpheus as a ceremonial piece.
The Roman Orpheus mosaic and villa are free to visit, and there is ample parking at the Littlecote House Hotel, which is a short walk away. You can also buy a guidebook and souvenirs in the hotel.
Do you like Roman Mosaics? Where did you see some beautiful ones? Tell me all about it in the comments below.
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Interesting although I would have ranked some of them differently. But I honestly do not understand why the Mosaics in oLd, Israel is on the list. In my opinion the larger Mosaic there is among my top three. And I have seen about two thirds on your list.
Thanks for sharing, there are lots of Roman mosaics across the world, they all look lovely to explore 🙂