Rome - Italy
The Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, announced the opening of a new museum in the heart of Trajan's Baths on the Colle Opio hill, allowing visitors to view the largest fresco and the largest mosaic from the Roman era found so far in a partially intact condition, starting from the weekend of September 12 and 13.

Two unique works of art dating back to the first century AD

The discovery relates to a huge mosaic entitled “The Banana and the Philosopher,” and a fresco known as “The Painted City,” which extends over an area of ten square metres, and dates back to a former building of the Baths of Trajan from the first century AD, and depicts a city seen from above. The Baths of Trajan were designed by Apollodoro of Damascus at the request of Emperor Trajan, and were opened on June 22 of the year 109 AD. They occupied about 60 thousand square meters.

In a statement reflecting the importance of the discovery, Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome, said: “
These are the two main, truly unique pieces that visitors will be able to see and at the same time the excavations in their surroundings will continue, because the Antiquities Supervision Authority will continue the research. He added that the two works represent “more than a century of archaeological history, from the Nero-Flavian era until the reign of Trajan.”

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Limited visits to preserve artistic heritage

To measure the impact of the presence of visitors on the preservation of these works, the first visits will be organized experimentally for small groups during weekends only, with free guided tours by advance reservation. Starting October 2, the site will be open for visits from Friday to Sunday, with six appointments per day, and a maximum of 15 people per tour.

A new Roman treasure awaits the Arab visitor in Rome
This discovery represents an exceptional opportunity for the Arab visitor interested in Roman heritage, as it allows him to see the largest fresco and the largest mosaic from the Roman era in one location. The “Painted City” is of particular importance because it depicts a fortified city with buildings, theatres, temples and towers, giving the Arab visitor a window into urban life in the Roman Empire about two thousand years ago. The new site also adds a distinctive cultural station to European tourism programs, especially for lovers of antiquities and ancient history.