The remains of the hypocaust – a system of central heating that circulates warm air underneath the floor, and occasionally through the wall – were discovered during the reconstruction of the property in 1864.
They are made up of 27 square columns in a square chamber that originally contained 32 columns in eight rows of four. The system would have been a part of the legionary baths, which was in turn part of one of the largest buildings in Chester as a kind of clubhouse for the men of the Twentieth legion to relax, enjoy a Turkish bath exercise, or converse.
The hypocaust dates to the 2nd century, when Chester was under Roman occupation. In the late 13th or 14th century a medieval undercroft – a cellar or storage room – was built adjacent to the hypocaust, with a house above.
In 1864 a new floor was built on street level, with a shop front being added later during the 20th century.
Today, the building is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. The ground floor is used as a cafe. To the left hand side is a small staircase which takes you down to an additional seating area in the cellar, where you can view parts of the hypocaust.
Part of the hypocaust has been moved to the Roman Gardens in Chester.
From the centre of Chester, 39 Bridge Street is a 5 minute walk via Northgate St. It’s also a 7 minute drive via the A5268.
]]>Finds from the site of Bignor Roman Villa hint to an initial homestead dating from the end of the 1st century, while structural evidence points with more certainty to the existence of a timber farm around 190 AD.
A later stone structure was built during the 3rd century, with the extension of new rooms, a hypocaust, and a portico soon following. Its final additions took place in the 4th century, when work was undertaken on the north wing that included the stunning mosaics later discovered at the site. In its final form, Bignor Roman Villa consisted of 65 rooms surrounding a courtyard, alongside a number of farm buildings in the vicinity.
No records exist from the Roman period about who lived at the Villa, however it must have been a family of considerable wealth and likely, according to experts, of Romano-British descent.
Though once a lavish home, Bignor was eventually abandoned after over 2 centuries of habitation – probably after the Roman withdrawal from Britain. It was rediscovered in the early 19th century and is enclosed by Georgian buildings, which are themselves worthy of note and have recently been restored.
Today, Bignor Roman Villa contains some of the best preserved Roman mosaics in Britain, as well as the remains of the Villa complex which include several living rooms, a bathhouse and even the underfloor heating systems employed by Roman engineers.
The Villa has been owned by the Tupper family since 1811, when George Tupper accidentally stumbled upon Roman remains while he was ploughing. The site’s various rooms and mosaics have been beautifully preserved, alongside an in-house museum where visitors can view more of the artefacts that have been uncovered at the site.
Situated right in the heart of the South Downs, the best and most feasible way to reach Bignor Roman Villa is by car. Signs to Bignor Roman Villa can be seen just before Bury Hill on the A29 in the east and just before Duncton Hill on the A285 further west. Small, winding roads will lead you to the Villa itself, a countryside journey that is complete with picturesque views of the surrounding Sussex countryside. Parking is also available at the site.
If travelling via public transport, the nearest train station is 3.3 miles south of Bignor village at Amberley, while the 99 bus route stops right outside at the main Villa entrance, but must be pre-booked.
]]>The archaeological site at Boscoreale was actually home to a number of Roman villas, which were destroyed in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Of these villas only one is open to the public, the partially-restored Villa Regina.
The neighbourhood of Monte Bursaccio which was overcome by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD that obliterated and preserved its better-known neighbours, Pompeii and Herculaneum, is famous for the frescoes of its aristocratic villas, excavated before World War I. A hoard of Roman silver and coins that had been hurriedly stashed in a cistern for protection at the time of the eruption was also recovered in Boscoreale in 1895, and divided among several museums, including the Louvre and the British Museum.
Boscoreale, about a kilometre north of Pompeii of which it was an expansive, more rural outlying suburb, was notable in antiquity for having numerous aristocratic country villas and was preserved as a hunting park – hence its name, meaning “Royal Grove” – by the kings of Naples. The villa probably dates back to the first century BC and had been further enlarged during the Julio-Claudian era.
Boscoreale villa is comprised of a number of rooms, arranged on three sides of an open courtyard which houses the wine cellar. It is believed the villa formed part of a farming complex, which was probably a vineyard and wine-press. Other villas excavated at the site include Villa Pisanella and the Villa of Publius Fannio Sinistore.
The Antiquarium archaeological museum contains artefacts from the Boscoreale villas as well as finds from the other major ancient sites in the area. Visitors can see food remains, plaster casts of the victims of the eruption and a number of the every day life objects. The museum provides guided tours of all the major sites in the area.
Boscoreale Villa and Antiquarium is located only 3 kilometres north of Pompeii, at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. Transportation can be accessed from Pompeii and surrounding historic sites.
]]>The first building constructed at Brading Roman Villa appeared in around 100 AD, not long after the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD. This consisted of the South Range, which was soon followed by the larger North Range in 200 AD.
By the 4th century, the grand West Range was completed as a winged corridor villa, making up the main building of the family’s residence. Over time the interior of the West Range was changed, with walls moved and mosaics added to suit the changing times and fashions.
A number of neighbouring villas were situated around Brading, with the island’s location a perfect choice for reaching both mainland Britain and Gaul (modern France). Later in the 4th century however, Brading suffered heavily from pirate raids, eventually collapsing to ruin in the 5th century.
Today Brading Roman Villa is housed in a museum built around the dramatic ruins of its West Range, in which visitors can explore what was once the grandest part of the Roman residence. In places, the Villa’s walls rise up to one metre in height, while aspects of its hypocaust – or underfloor heating system – can also be viewed.
The highlight of Brading Roman Villa is its mosaics however, the largest of which portrays a mixture of religious, nautical and farming imagery. One mosaic also features the image of Medusa, similar to the one found at Bignor Roman Villa, and was thought to ward off evil and protect the house.
Outside, the foundations of the North and South Ranges are marked in chalk, with a 3D recreation of the entire site helping visitors to visualise what it may have once looked like.
Brading Roman Villa is located in Brading on the Isle of Wight, just off the A3055. The Southern Vectis Bus Service 3 stops at the Villa, while Brading train station is short walk to the site following signposts through the village.
]]>Today, the extensive ruins of this famed city can be found on the outskirts of modern day Tunis.
Carthage itself was central to the history of the ancient world. Legend states that the city was founded by the Phoenician Queen Dido in the 9th Century BC and the ancient metropolis certainly rose to prominence over the next 500 years.
However, three long and brutal wars with Rome, known as the Punic Wars, eventually led to the downfall and destruction of Carthage in 146 BC. It is even said the Romans salted the earth so nothing more could live on the site of the once-dominant city.
Having destroyed the Carthaginian Empire, the Romans later realised the potential in the strategic location of the site. In the 1st Century AD they re-founded Carthage and it grew to become one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire.
As Rome’s power waned, Carthage was briefly captured by the Vandals in the 5th Century AD before Byzantine forces re-took the city. In 698 AD, after many years of hard fighting the city was finally captured by the forces of the Umayyad Caliphate who founded the new city of Tunis nearby, leaving the ancient metropolis to fade into history.
Time has significantly taken its toll on the site and little remains of ancient Carthage today are spread over quite a broad area. The best way to begin exploring these ruins is probably by visiting Byrsa Hill and the Carthage Museum. The museum hosts a collection of Carthaginian (Punic) and Roman artefacts including marble sarcophagi and an impressive model of Punic Carthage which helps you envisage the ancient city.
Other key points of interest include the impressive Antonine Baths, the Roman Amphitheater, Roman villas and reconstructed Roman theatre of Carthage. Among the best preserved Punic remains are the Magon Quarter, Punic Port and unnerving Sanctuary of Tophet. After exploring the remains, be sure to pause and admire the stunning coastal views across the Mediterranean.
Additionally, you can explore all the sites of Carthage on our Carthage Sites Map feature.
Along the N9 road towards the coast from Tunis, Carthage is reached by car in around 20 minutes. Although an easy alternative of reaching Carthage from central Tunis is via local transport. The TMG light railway Carthage-Byrsa station is within the ancient site, and there is a daily service running from the early morning until midnight.
]]>Tunisia is home to a collection of stunning Roman ruins. It was the stage for the first Roman siege on African soil between 149-146BC. The Romans hugely changed the landscapes of the places where they settled in Tunisia, building structures such as great amphitheatres and villas which were richly decorated with mosaics and paintings.
By the turn of the first century AD, Carthage was the second largest city in the western half of Rome’s empire. It was eventually destroyed in 698AD; however, the remains which still stand there are a testament to its rulers.
The Carthage Roman Villa and Kobba Bent el Rey site is believed to have housed some of the wealthier inhabitants of Roman Carthage. Though the site is thought to have suffered during the Vandal invasions, the Kobba Bent el Rey is particularly well-preserved, being a residential ruin which dates back to the 4th century.
While many of these houses have little left to see today, the notable exceptions are the ’House of the Aviary’ (Villa de la volièr) which contains an intricate mosaic showing birds nesting among the tress.
Another highlight is the structure known as Kobba Bent el Rey, or Baths of Dido, a vaulted underground building dating from the early fourth century. The Kobba Bent el Rey is considered to be among the best preserved residential ruins in Carthage.
Other sites in the area include the Antonine Baths. Originally built from 145 to 165 AD, mostly during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, the Antonine Baths were among the largest baths to be built in the Roman world and were the largest such complex in North Africa.
The site is popular amongst tourists and locals alike. Entry is free for Tunisians on the first Sunday of every month and on public holidays. For tourists, access to all of the historical sites of Carthage costs 10dt. The strategically-positioned site is also particularly beautiful, with a panoramic view of the surrounding area crowning what is a fascinating day out.
The Roman Villas and Kobba Bent el Rey are reachable in around 10 minutes by foot and 2 minutes by car via Route de La Goulette. From the centre of Tunis, the site is reachable in 20-30 minutes via the N9, or Avenue Habib Bourguiba/R23/Route de La Goulette/RR23 and R23/RR23.
]]>Across from Casa Romana are the ruins of the second century Temple of Dionysus, not too impressive in themselves, but worth seeing in conjunction with the villa.
The Casa Romana, or Roman Manor, one of the most interesting sites on the island of Kos. In 1933 the great earthquake nearly destroyed the whole island. This provided an opportunity to conduct extensive excavations and learn more about the ancient monuments underneath the levelled structures. Italian archaeologist Laurenzi was in charge of the excavation and a full restoration project that lasted until 1940. The surviving structure of the house was rebuilt and provides insight into how a wealthy Koan official and his family would have lived.
Casa Romana has 36 rooms and a group of 3 atriums, which were supposed to provide light and air to the surrounding rooms. Each of these atriums has a small fountain in the middle. The first atrium used to host a small statue of Asklepius in the hallway. The second atrium has a floor decorated with dolphins and a sea-nymph. In addition, its walls are covered with marble. The third atrium is the biggest of all. Its floors are also covered with mosaic, while its walls have wall paintings.
In the first atrium, a mosaic depicts a leopard rushing at a deer and a lion attacking a wild goat. The floors around the pool of the second atrium are decorated with mosaics depicting dolphins and a Nereid on a sea horse holding a torch. In the rooms next to the third atrium, the mosaics depict a tiger and a leopard.
To the east of the Casa Romana lie the ruins of the Central Thermae (Baths) or Thermae of Amygdalonas, excavated in 1934. In some spots, the mosaic floors are preserved as well as the places where the heating of the water took place.
The Casa Romana is situated on Grigoriou Pemptou Street in an area that constituted the neighbourhood of aristocratic houses during the Roman period. The Casa Romana has been reopened to the public in the spring of 2015 after some extensive restoration which has effectively highlighted the different elements of this unique manor.
Casa Romana is less than half an hour’s drive away from Kos airport.There is free parking near to the site.
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The Cerro da Vila was a Roman maritime villa or domus built on a small hill on the coastal region of Algarve in Portugal. The house, inhabited as early as the 1st century BC by an elite family, included a reception room, sleeping rooms and a kitchen, surrounding a peristyle column gallery. The building had pipes running through it, delivering water to spouts and statues in the central courtyard as well as a large bathing complex.
Cerro da Vila was in a popular area for wealthy Romans to settle due to the mild climate and wealth of agriculture and fish, important in making the fish paste commodity known as ‘garum’. The area was also politically stable, protected by mountains and the rugged coast. The ports also facilitated the export of goods, and maintained contact with the metropolis and other parts of Roman civilisation.
The Cerro da Vila saw further phases of construction and occupation into and well beyond the Roman period: during the Visigothic era between the 5th and 6th centuries AD, industrial structures were reused and the funerary area was moved closer to the villa. The villa was later inhabited and adapted by Iberian Muslim inhabitants after the 9th century, retaining the opulence and status as an important rural settlement despite the period’s political instability.
Cerro da Vila was only excavated and restored after 1963, when an archaeologist witnessed a tractor plowing up fragments of Roman mosaics. Excavations continued into the present day, with the Monographic Museum of Cerro da Vila opening in 2000.
Allow yourself around an hour to walk amidst the ruins of Cerro da Vila, reading the 17 or so information boards on-site. The villa ruins today offer well-preserved foundations of a 2,000 year old site, as well as a small museum that displays artefacts from the excavations and is only €3 entry.
Pass the exquisite mosaic entrance to the villa before viewing further maritime-themed mosaic designs common to the area near the remains of the villa’s public and private baths.
The villa is a 5 minute walk from the marina. If using public transport, there is a bus stop at Cerro da Vila on the Vilamoura central line, and if driving there is parking on site.
]]>Believed to have been built in around 120 AD, Chedworth Roman Villa would have been a typical upper-class home in the Roman period. In its initial build phase, the villa consisted of three buildings comprising 3 sides of a rectangle, with a bath house to the north. Following a fire in the early 3rd century, the west and south wings were rebuilt and the bath suite enlarged, before in the 4th century it was further transformed into an elite residence.
A portico was added at the villa’s entrance, as well as an inner garden and outer courtyard, while a second set of baths was constructed in the west wing. Exquisite mosaics were installed in the dining room, alongside 14 other rooms in the villa.
Interestingly, there is evidence at Chedworth of significant occupation following the Roman withdrawal out of Britain in 410, making it a unique site in the country. In room 28, the mosaic and east and west walls were installed after 424, providing the first piece of evidence that Roman activity remained in Britain longer than previously thought. Over half of the coins found at the villa also date from the mid-late 6th century, indicating its further occupation in the Anglo-Saxon period.
Today Chedworth Roman Villa is run by the National Trust, and welcomes visitors to view its fascinating remains. Audio guides or guided tours are available, however guests are also able to explore the villa at leisure, taking in its various sights.
Many of the villa’s mosaics may be enjoyed, including one in the dining room that depicts figures from each season dancing, while the hypocaust – or underfloor heating system – can also still be admired. Outside an octagonal shrine surrounds a natural spring, built as a Nymphaeum to honour water nymphs in the area.
The adjoining villa museum showcases some of the finds discovered during excavations of the site including coins, hair pins, and a stone relief of a ‘hunter god’ alongside a stag and a dog, likely placed in a temple at the site.
Chedworth Roman Villa is located near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, and can be reached by following the brown signs marked ‘Roman Villa’ from the A429. Parking is available 20m from the site, with further spaces in a lay-by close to the visitor centre. Public transport to the site is limited, with the nearest train station 11.6 miles miles away at Cheltenham Spa, from which a pre-booked taxi may be taken. The Stagecoach West 78 service also runs from Winson to the Roman Villa stop, a 4-minute walk to the site.
]]>Crofton Roman Villa was first inhabited in around 140 AD, and formed the centre of a 500-acre farming estate. Over its 260 years of occupation it was altered several times, and at its peak had a total of 20 rooms.
In 2 rooms, its floors were made of ‘opus signinum’, a building material made up of broken down tiles mixed with mortar, and beaten down with a rammer. Elsewhere, 3 other rooms had tiled or ‘tessellated’ floors, the remains of which can still be viewed today. By the 5th century however, the villa was abandoned likely during the Roman retreat from Britain.
In 1926, local workmen discovered a host of Roman artefacts at the site while constructing new driveways for a council building, and the following excavation unearthed the ancient villa beneath. It was not until 1988 however that the site was extensively excavated by the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, who alongside Bromley Council transformed it into the educational site it is today.
Today the site has been partially excavated and is housed inside a modern purpose-build structure. Visitors can see the remains of 10 of the villa’s rooms, as well as the original tiled flooring and the hypocaust under-floor heating system. Short talks by a villa guide are available, and there is a host of information boards around the site including graphic displays of the villa and its excavation.
A touch table features a selection of real Roman finds for handling, while around the site there are also a number of reconstructed items from the Roman era such as pottery, lamps, and jewellery. The site is child-friendly and also hosts special events for children in the Easter and summer holidays.
Crofton Roman Villa is located in Orpington in London, on the A232 (Crofton Road). Orpington train station is adjacent to the site, while a number of bus services stop directly outside at the Orpington Station stop. Parking is also available off York Rise, adjacent to the train station.
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