Rome opens museum displaying newly restored ancient art
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In Rome, Italy, officials opened a new museum near the Colosseum and began displaying two ancient artworks, a large fresco and a well-preserved mosaic, after years of restoration.
Archaeologists discovered the fresco in 1998 during excavations beneath the Colle Oppio hill, the site of the Baths of Trajanus built in the first century AD.
The fresco, called “The Painted City,” depicts a walled harbor city from above, including buildings, squares, and a theater, and Rome’s mayor Roberto Gualtieri stated it is the largest mural of its kind from ancient Rome. Researchers are still working to identify the city shown in the fresco, but believe it was a well-known location.
The museum also exhibits a mosaic spanning four levels, which features decorated columns, architectural details, and figures, also depicting a harbor city in its lower sections. The Baths of Trajanus, dedicated in 109 AD, once covered 6 hectares and functioned as a bath complex, sports facility, and cultural center with an attached library.
Currently, only small groups of 15 people can view the artworks on weekends by reservation, as researchers assess the art’s resilience to humidity and climate change before opening it to wider audiences.
