Sicily - Villa Romana del Casale. . . . . . .

The Sicilian port of Licata rarely receives cruise ships as most are far too large.

Fortunately, Noble Caledonia's beautiful small expedition ship, Island Sky, was able to

 dock here, making it so much easier to go ashore than alternative ways.

Prior to visiting the winery for the amazing lunch, HERE, we were off the ship

 early morning heading by coach to Piazza Amerina, Province of Enna, for the visit to

 the most amazing 4th century villa urbana. . . . . . . Villa Romana del Casale. 

It contains the richest, largest, and most complex collection of Roman

mosaics in the world, and understandably has been designated as one of

 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy.

The villa has the most sensational mosaics, their style and technique reminiscent

of those found in Northern Africa. Thanks to tent-like covered walkways, constructed

 to provide shelter from the elements for the mosaics, the rather slow-moving lines

 of visitors were also sheltered from the hot sun, a huge plus as there were so many

mosaics to view.

The mosaic pieces themselves are incredibly small making the finished scenes
 so detailed, almost like paintings. 
I can't even imagine how many artists, and how much time, completion of these
 amazing mosaics took.

In 1959-60 a mosaic was excavated on the floor of the room dubbed

 "Chamber of the Ten Maidens".

Informally called "the bikini girls", the young women perform sports including

 weight-lifting, discus throwing, running and ball games. 

The leopard kill of an antelope - even the dripping blood is visible.

For me, and I'm certain many others, especially if one has been on an African safari,

 the long, undulating floor of the Corridor of the Great Hunt is breathtaking, 

almost heart stopping! I wish so much I could have had more time here to look

 even closer and learn more about its story.

This mosaic is very complex and is the depiction of the capture of live wild animals in

 the most distant parts of the empire, and their subsequent transport by ship to Rome

 for the venationes, fights involving wild animals, that were held in Rome in the

 Colosseum and the Circus Maximus.

The Corridor of the Great Hunt.

Views from the Corridor of the Great Hunt ~ Villa Romana del Casale, Sicily.

The villa was probably the center of a huge agricultural estate for around 150 years, 

then damaged and perhaps destroyed during the domination of the 

Vandals and Visigoths. The site was abandoned in the 12th century AD after

 a landslide covered the villa and survivors moved to the current location of

 Piazza America. Some of the tallest parts of the remains were always above ground

 and the area was cultivated for crops. Early in the 19th century pieces of the mosaics

 and columns were found - and later that century the excavations started.

What an amazing place!

Please be aware that these are all photos taken by me in May 2017.

I will be happy to give permission to use any or all if you make a request via e-mail.