Roman Villa of Casale

The Roman Villa del Casale is a Late Antique residential building, popularly referred to as a villa despite its resemblance to an imperial urban palace. Its ruins are located approximately four kilometers from Piazza Armerina. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The Villa is the center of a large estate, serving administrative, residential, and entertainment purposes. Its over 3,000 square meters of mosaics reflect a specific purpose, both representative and indicative of the owner's culture. The identity of the Villa's owner is still uncertain; according to the most recent studies, it is attributed to a high-ranking member of the Roman senatorial aristocracy, perhaps a Praefectus Urbi (a person responsible for public order in the city of Rome).

Piazza Armerina, world-famous for the mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale, boasts a splendid Baroque historic center, presided over by the imposing Cathedral, which occupies the highest point in the city, surrounded by the ancient core. This historic center transports us back in time with its ancient features: the medieval streets, the beautiful Renaissance and Baroque buildings, such as Palazzo Trigona and, not far from it, the Aragonese Castle.