Ancient Roman Fresco and Mosaic Open to the Public at the Restored Baths of Trajan

Mayor Roberto Gualtieri presented the newly restored fresco—dubbed the “Painted City”—and the adjoining “Great Mosaic” after they were uncovered in an underground gallery of the Baths of Trajan on Rome’s Oppio hill. The works, dating to the first century AD, depict a walled port city viewed from above, complete with buildings, a theatre, a temple, public piazzas and towers. The fresco is described as the largest wall fresco of its kind from ancient Rome, while the mosaic measures roughly 15 metres (about 49 feet) in height and features four decorative levels, including theatrical scenes and a bird-eye layout of the port city.

Ancient Rome’s biggest fresco and mosaic opens to visitors three decades after discovery Ancient Rome’s biggest fresco and mosaic unveiled three decades after discovery The Independent

The Baths of Trajan were dedicated by Emperor Trajan in 109 AD and covered six hectares (15 acres), making them the world’s largest bath complex at the time. They incorporated the earlier Domus Aurea complex and were engineered to optimise water temperature for users. The fresco and mosaic remained hidden underground until excavations in the 1990s revealed them within the foundations of the baths.

Ancient Rome’s biggest fresco and mosaic opens to visitors three decades after discovery

Both artworks are approximately 15 metres high. Restoration work involved cleaning surface deposits, consolidating grout, and applying techniques to improve visibility while preserving the original pigments, which remain vivid despite centuries of burial. The mosaic’s intricate columns, architectural elements and figures are arranged across four levels, with the upper tiers showing close-up human figures and the lower tier presenting the city’s plan.

Ancient Rome’s biggest fresco and mosaic unveiled three decades after discovery

Mayor Gualtieri emphasized the pieces’ unique artistic and documentary value and argued that they merit public display. Cultural superintendent Claudio Parisi Presicce noted the exceptional preservation of the port-city scene and acknowledged that the specific city represented is unknown, though it likely was a well-known location in antiquity. Authorities have opened the site to small groups of fifteen visitors during a weekend trial period beginning this month, using the trial to monitor how increased humidity and climate conditions affect the delicate surfaces before broader public access is permitted.

Ancient Rome’s biggest fresco and mosaic opens to visitors three decades after discovery

The opening provides a rare opportunity for visitors to experience what may be Rome’s largest surviving fresco-mosaic complex, enhancing the city’s cultural offering and potentially drawing additional tourism to the historic Oppio hill area once the trial phase confirms the artworks can withstand regular public exposure.

Ancient Rome’s biggest fresco and mosaic opens to visitors three decades after discovery