Largest Roman mosaic opens to the public - The Art Newspaper - International art news and eventsSearchDigital EditionsNewslettersSubscribeDigital EditionsNewslettersArt marketMuseums & heritageExhibitionsBooksPodcastsColumnsArt of LuxuryAdventures with Van GoghVenice BiennaleArt marketMuseums & heritageExhibitionsBooksPodcastsColumnsArt of LuxuryAdventures with Van GoghVenice BiennaleSearchArchaeologynewsLargest Roman mosaic opens to the publicThe first-century mosaic and accompanying fresco located beneath the Baths of Trajan in Rome welcomed its first visitors this past weekendGareth Harris14 September 2026ShareArchaeologists are unsure whether the mosaic depicts a real or imagined cityIndependent Photo Agency/Alamy Live NewsA vast mosaic uncovered in Rome, the largest ever discovered in the Roman world, has opened to the public for the first time. The mosaic and an accompanying fresco were discovered during excavations in the 1990s in an underground gallery beneath the Baths of Trajan, an expansive imperial leisure complex comprising libraries and bathing pools.The works, known as the “Painted City” fresco and the “Muse and the Philosopher” mosaic, have opened to the public during weekends, initially for groups of 15. The first visitors saw the site last weekend (12 and 13 September); from 2 October, the viewings will run from Friday to Sunday. The opening times were confirmed by the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, in an Instagram post.According to CNN, archaeologist Francesco Pacetti said at the unveiling of the site earlier this month: “We estimate that it is the biggest wall mosaic ever found in the Roman World and we are still digging to find out where it stops.” The fresco and mosaic are thought to date from the first century.The fresco features images of a walled port city, with defensive walls and towers, viewed from above. The mosaic, which is ten metres high and stretches along 16 metres of a wall beneath the Oppian Hill near the Colosseum, features figures and architectural structures over four different levels.“It’s an extraordinary fresco, a real city seen from above, with its walls, towers and buildings depicted in perspective,” Gualtieri wrote on Instagram. “It’s even more incredible to think that it was done almost two thousand years ago, in the Neronian [54-68AD] or Flavia era [69-96AD], even before the Baths of Trajan [inaugurated 109AD].”Gualtieri adds: “There is another masterpiece: the mosaic of the 'Muse and the Philosopher', that formed part of the decoration of a large hall overlooking the nymphaeum. On the walls, the mosaics depict a grand theatrical scene, featuring statues and real-life figures… Rome continues to surprise us. Every dig adds a piece to our city’s extraordinary history.”An on-site museum focused on the Baths of Trajan opened earlier this month; the restoration of the new museum complex was carried out as part of the PNRR-Caput Mundi programme, a €500m project funded by the European Union.Subscribe to our daily newsletterSubscribeArchaeologyAncient RomeItalyDiscoveriesMosaicsShareSubscribe to The Art Newspaper’s digital newsletter for your daily digest of essential news, views and analysis from the international art world delivered directly to your inbox.Newsletter subscribeInformation AboutContactCookie policyData protectionPrivacy policyFrequently Asked QuestionsSubscription T&CsTerms and conditionsAdvertiseSister PapersSponsorship policyFollow usInstagramBlueskyLinkedInFacebookTikTokYouTube© The Art NewspaperRelated contentArchaeologynews25 November 2021Magnificent Roman mosaic discovered in a farmer's field is 'UK's most exciting find of its kind in a century'The first ever mosaic illustrating scenes from Homer’s Iliad, it would have decorated an imposing dining and entertainment space within a major villa complexMaev KennedyArchaeologynews11 April 2024Stunning frescoes revealed at PompeiiDepicting scenes from Greek mythology, the works were discovered in the banqueting room of a large house in the ancient Roman cityGarry ShawMuseums & Heritagenews28 July 2023Ancient ruins of emperor Nero's theatre found in RomeObjects ranging from the Roman to medieval period were found at the archaeological site, which will now be turned into a Four Seasons hotelGareth HarrisArchaeologynews23 February 2022Intricate Roman mosaic is largest to be found in London in half a century The “once-in-a-lifetime” discovery took place on a building site across the river from what would have been ancient LondiniumJosé da Silva

A vast mosaic and an accompanying fresco, discovered during excavations in the 1990s beneath the Baths of Trajan in Rome, have recently opened to the public. These works have been identified as the largest ever discovered mosaic in the Roman world, and they comprise the “Painted City” fresco and the “Muse and the Philosopher” mosaic. The unveiling allowed the public to view these artifacts, which were initially presented to groups of fifteen, and the viewing schedule has expanded to run from Friday to Sunday starting October 2nd.

Archaeologist Francesco Pacetti estimated that this mosaic represents the biggest wall mosaic ever found in the Roman World, noting that further excavations are ongoing to determine its full extent. The fresco depicts a walled port city, showcasing defensive walls and towers viewed from an aerial perspective. The mosaic itself measures ten meters high and spans sixteen meters along a wall beneath the Oppian Hill near the Colosseum, featuring various figures and architectural structures arranged across four different levels. Roberto Gualtieri, the mayor of Rome, commented on the extraordinary nature of the work, suggesting the fresco depicts a real city seen from above, with its structures rendered in perspective. Gualtieri further emphasized the remarkable antiquity of the works, speculating that they date back to the Neronian or Flavian era, even preceding the inauguration of the Baths of Trajan in 109 AD.

In addition to the major mosaic, the artwork also includes the “Muse and the Philosopher” mosaic, which adorned a large hall overlooking the nymphaeum and features theatrical scenes with statues and real-life figures. The discovery and subsequent study of these items continue to contribute to the understanding of Rome's history, as each excavation reveals new facets of the city's extraordinary past. The restoration of the museum complex for the Baths of Trajan was undertaken as part of the PNRR-Caput Mundi program, a project funded by the European Union.