Domus Romana
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In Rabat, just a few metres far from Mdina, you will find the 'Roman Villa' (sometimes referred to as Domus Romana or Roman House). This house probably belonged to a rich Roman merchant or senior official and dates back to the 1st Century BC.
The remains of the villa were first excavated in 1881. The villa was restored keeping its original Roman design and then converted into a museum exhibiting Roman remains found all over the Maltese islands. The main attraction of the villa is the atrium, covered with mosaic and enclosed by 16 columns. Only one of these columns is original. There are various other mosaic pavements in this house, competing with other fine mosaics found in western Mediterranean, Pompei and Sicily. During the restoration, a number of rooms were constructed to protect the remains of these old mosaics. These mosaics were created by placing small cubes of marble or stone closely together in cement. These are not always set in straight lines adding definition to the work, and making it look like a painting. Parts of these mosaics were imported from workshops in Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt and were then finished off by local artists.
photo courtesy of Heritage Malta
One of the mosaics depicts two doves perched on the rim of a bowl of water. Another mosaic shows a little boy holding a bunch of grapes in one hand and a pomegranate in the other. Another mosaic that was probably in the main entrance of the building shows a nude male figure held by two women. The mosaics probably date back to the first quarter of the first century B.C.
The first Director of Museums in Malta, Sir Themistocles Zammit, investigated the villa between 1920 and 1924. At that time an upper hall and a small front garden were added as an entrance to the villa.
Amongst the exhibits in the Roman museum one can find lamps, glass and gold objects that depict the lifestyle of the Romans here in Malta.
The Roman Villa was closed in 2002 for refurbishment and opened again in 2005. It is now called the ‘Domus Romana' meaning Roman Town house as the original building made part of the old city 'Melite'. Domus Romana is open to the general public daily between 9.00am and 5.00pm. The site is closed on Good Friday, 24, 25, 31 December and January 1. There are ample parking bays within walking distance of the museum and the site is also served by public transport.
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