A Roman villa buried eight metres below an Italian church will open to the public this July. Photo: Vassili CasulaA Roman villa buried eight metres below an Italian church will open to the public this July. Photo: Vassili Casula
Posted on 05/21/2016 5:39:43 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
A fresco-covered Roman villa, found underneath a church on Italy's sun-kissed Amalfi coast, is set to open to the public for the first time in July....
Italy's Culture Undersecretary, Antimo Cesaro... told Ansa the ruin was "a perfectly preserved archaeological treasure of enormous artistic value".
The enormous villa dates back to the second century BC and was first unearthed eight metres below the church of Santa Maria dell'Assunta in central Positano, Campania, in 2004.
Prior to its discovery, the impressive abode had lain hidden since AD 79 when an eruption of Vesuvius buried it under volcanic stone and ash. The same cataclysmic eruption also buried the nearby Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Over the last 12 years, teams of international archaeologists have been working to excavate the vast villa complex, which stretches under the entire historic centre of Positano.
So far, only a fraction of the total structure has been brought to light.
While excavating the segment of the home set to be opened archaeologists discovered gilded columns, colourful frescoes and several household objects including bronze vases and wooden wardrobes.
The excavations are still ongoing and restoration work is being carried out on some of the frescoes. However, this summer the public will be able to see the ancient home for the first time.
In a later tweet, Cesaro added that the villa would be given extra money from a ?150 million government pot to fund further archaeological work at the site...
To date, a reported 4 million [Euros] has already been spent on the villa's partial excavation and restoration, and the site promises do be a huge draw for tourists.
"It's a great opportunity for the city – and one which we don't intend to waste, said Positano mayor Michele De Lucia.
(Excerpt) Read more at thelocal.it ...
A Roman villa buried eight metres below an Italian church will open to the public this July. Photo: Vassili CasulaA Roman villa buried eight metres below an Italian church will open to the public this July. Photo: Vassili Casula
Some of the items recovered from the villa. Photo: Vassili Casula
Awesome ...love the Amalfi Coast!
Beautiful colours on those frescos. The Romans certainly knew how to live well.
very cool!
Set the countdown clock for the Amish to blow it up as an offense to Mennonism..
Thanks, SunkenCiv
Owned by Soros no doubt... /s
Wow.. Frozen in time ... and pyroplastic flow and stuff.. a Cecil B DeMille kind of day happened.. and not on a huge sound stage set.
Wished we had the time to see some of Amalfi last trip,, next time.
What happened to the Church? Is it still there or been moved? I wonder what the history of the Church is?
Positano is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It would have been astonishing if wealthy Romans had not already discovered the place. That there were ruins on this site is almost a d’oh, not to take anything from the professionals who have worked so hard to uncover it.
I haven’t been to Positano but apparently the church is still there and one of the sights of the town—a medieval church later redecorated, with a Byzantine icon of the Black Madonna and a 1599 painting of the circumcision of Jesus (not a common theme for paintings). If the villa was found 24 meters below the church I assume they could uncover the Roman art without damaging the church.
Sure wish you could get Amalfi Sfusato lemons here!
The Romans of the time would assume that everything had been destroyed by the volcano. Then of course who would want to live and build there after a volcano had killed the previous occupants?
I have to wonder how many generations passed before people started building there again?
Sounds great!
Gorgeous!
Wow, the church sounds unique with a black Madonna, and a painting of The LORD being circumcised. I wonder why they painted a black Madonna. It would be fun to visit it. Thanks for the interesting info.
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