The remains of this ancient Roman House, discovered in 1881 give an idea of the life enjoyed here by the Roman masters who ruled over the Maltese islands. The house, (erroneously called Villa) which stands on high grounds overlooking the fertile valley beneath Mtarfa ridge, probably flourished in the first or second century AD.
The main features of the house are a Doric peristyle around a central court, a triclinium or dining room, and a few smaller chambers. The central court, paved with delicate mosaics, has an exquisite emblema with two doves on a fountain. The two adjacent rooms also have mosaic pavements, but no emblema. The house was decorated with marble busts and statues. Most of these are now exhibited in the museum.
Unfortunately, this rich town house was reduced to ruins by the Arab overlords who ruled the island after the 9th century. Part of the site was, in fact, utilised as a Moslem burial ground. The graves can still be seen at the back of the Museum.
In 1924, the site was built over for better protection, and the entire structure is now a Museum of Roman Antiquities.
The remains of the Roman House occupy the lower floor of the Museum building.
