The Late Roman Villa of Caddeddi

Sicily’s Agricultural Wealth and Roman Heritage

Sicily, renowned in antiquity for its agricultural prosperity, was home to numerous Roman villas that reflected the wealth of the island during the late Empire. One of the best-known examples is the Villa Romana del Casale near Piazza Armerina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its exquisite mosaics. Attracting over 350,000 visitors in 2018, it remains a top tourist destination. However, another significant villa from the same period lies in near obscurity — the Villa of Caddeddi, or Villa del Tellaro, located about 5 km south of Noto in southeastern Sicily.

The Caddeddi villa in rural Sicily is striking for the preservation of several spectacular mosaics, laid in the second half of the 4th century AD. This detail, from room 9, shows a panel featuring a satyr and maenad, companions of the wine-god Bacchus, whose bust featured in the centre of the floor. [All images: R J A Wilson, unless otherwise stated]

Rediscovery and Early Excavations

An Overlooked Gem

The Villa of Caddeddi, named after its location rather than the nearby river, lies in a fertile valley along the Tellaro River, just 3 km from the Mediterranean coast. Although not a new discovery, it remained largely unknown to the public for decades.

A farmhouse built during the 18th and 19th centuries stood atop the ancient villa, and there is evidence of clandestine excavations as early as the 1950s. By 1962, local guidebooks began mentioning “traces of mosaic,” which were described as “ample” by 1970. This prompted the archaeological authorities of Syracuse to intervene, leading to partial excavation and expropriation.

A view across the Tellaro valley from room 20. The stairway shows that the villa was a multi-level structure.

Preservation and Public Access

Three figured mosaics from the villa’s east wing were lifted in 1971 for restoration. A protective shed was constructed over the remains, including a geometric mosaic in the north corridor (Room 7). For years, these mosaics were hidden or stored, until a temporary exhibition in 2003 in a Noto church. After a new protective structure was completed, the villa finally opened to the public in 2008.

The plan of the Caddeddi villa, with room numbers referred to in the text.

Architectural Layout and Structure

Design and Ground Plan

The main block of the villa measures roughly 60m x 60m, with rooms arranged around a central peristyle courtyard. The layout includes corridors on all four sides and featured a mix of upper residential spaces and lower-level service rooms. The north side, facing the river, likely housed the most prestigious rooms.

The corridor mosaic at Caddeddi, which remains in its original position (it has never been lifted), features an intricate series of laurel-wreath medallions

A small apsed room (Room 6) on the south side may have served as a reception or dining space. Unfortunately, parts of the villa, particularly the southern and western wings, lie beneath the preserved farmhouse and remain unexplored. The presence of an apse (Room 27) raises the possibility of a bathing suite, although no baths have yet been located.

The mosaic in room 9, with a central panel depicting Bacchus, four tableaux showing satyrs and maenads, and corner vases from which spill the fruits of the soil. The distinctive X-shape of the interconnecting laurel bands reflects cross-vaulted ceilings, a design found on several Carthage mosaics.

Levels and Substructures

The villa was constructed on varying levels due to the sloping terrain. While the peristyle and surrounding rooms rest on the highest point, the north and east wings descend and contain substructures used for storage or services. The piano nobile (main residential floor) above these substructures is largely lost. Mosaic fragments found in the basement rooms hint at once-elegant floors above, yet they remain unstudied.

Part of the early modern farm which overlies much of the Roman villa. Underneath the archway on the right, the apsed room 6 at the centre of the south wing was found, with part of its mosaic miraculously surviving just below the present surface

Rooms 1–5, 8A, and 11–19 belong to these lower levels. For example, substructures 8, 8A, and 11 likely supported a grand apsed hall above (11m x 8m), possibly the largest room in the villa.

Dating and Historical Context

Coin Evidence and Possible Tsunami

Two coin hoards dated to AD 348 suggest that the villa was constructed after AD 350, likely between 370–375. A devastating tsunami in AD 365, triggered by an earthquake off Crete, may have destroyed an earlier villa on the site. Some remains under rooms 10 and 19 support this theory, as they show different wall alignments.

If this hypothesis holds, the villa at Caddeddi could represent a reconstruction effort after the tsunami, illustrating resilience and renewal in the face of natural disaster.

This photo shows the disparity in levels at the site: substructures are in the foreground (room 4 is at the centre), while the position of the mosaic pavement in room 8 at the higher level is indicated by the yellow arrow at top right. The early modern farmhouse can be seen in the background

Mosaic Masterpieces of Caddeddi

1. The Achilles Mosaic (Room 8)

Though fragmentary, this mosaic depicts a dramatic moment from the Trojan War: the ransom of Hector’s body by King Priam. In a version later than Homer. A large weighing scale dominates the scene. Surviving figures include:

Achilles, Odysseus, and Diomedes (left)
Priam and a son (right)
Legs of Hector lying on a pan
A Greek inscription aids identification

The room likely contained 12 panels, all with scenes from the life of Achilles or the Trojan War, and served as the main banquet and reception hall, showcasing the villa owner’s classical literacy.

All that survives of the mosaic in room 8. The figured panel shows the weighing of Hector’s body (only his legs survive) in exchange for the equivalent weight in gold. Of the Trojan king Priam only one arm is preserved. The panel was one of 12 in the room, depicting either scenes from the Trojan War, or from Achilles’ life.

2. The Bacchic Mosaic (Room 9)

This small room features a lavish floor design:

A central square with concave sides, surrounded by laurel leaf festoons
Four craters at the corners overflow with fruit: peaches, pears, pomegranates, and medlars
A partially preserved bust of Bacchus (god of wine) in the center
Four side panels show satyrs courting maenads

The imagery celebrates fertility, abundance, and wine, reflecting the richness of the estate. The X-shaped layout may echo the design of a cross-vaulted ceiling, cleverly translated into floor decoration.

The entrance to the Caddeddi villa (1), with white marble steps leading to a lozenge-patterned mosaic floor. It is the only use of marble known in the villa

Conclusion: A Forgotten Treasure

The Villa of Caddeddi, though overshadowed by its larger counterpart at Piazza Armerina. Offers a fascinating glimpse into elite rural life in late Roman Sicily. With its rich mosaics, complex architecture, and intriguing history. Including possible ties to the AD 365 tsunami, the villa deserves greater recognition. Future research and exploration hold promise for uncovering more of its secrets — and perhaps, the identity of its learned, wealthy patron.