Today we left Agrigento to head back to Catania where we would catch our flight to Malta. But on the way, we stopped at Villa Romana del Casale, another UNESCO World Heritage site. This is a large and elaborate Roman villa dating back to the 4th Century. While the villa itself is an amazing example of the architecture of the time and remarkably well-preserved, the true stars of the show are the mosaics throughout. They are the best in situ example of mosaics in the Roman world and are truly outstanding in the quality and quantity, not to mention the intricacy of the designs. The floors of every part of the villa are covered in mosaics, many of which portray stories from the time, stories from the myths as well as beautiful designs. The site is set up well for viewing, as they have elevated walkways through the various parts of the villa, so you can look down on the floors and get a good view of the designs. The fact that this glimpse into the past has been so well restored and preserved is a testament to the hard work of many dedicated archaeologists. A most worthwhile detour from our drive to Catania.
We arrived in good time and checked into our little apartments, which are but stone’s throw from the airport and very well-appointed. We tried to head out for an eat-out dinner, but after several failed attempts, once again thanks to Google Maps, we ended up stopping at a little trattoria and just getting takeout. But it was actually quite delish!
An early to bed, since we had to get up at 4:00 in order to get to the airport, return the rental car and catch our flight to Malta.