The Roman Villa of Desenzano del Garda, Italy

Mosaics of Beauty & Sacred Symbols

A representation of the Flower of Life

Archaeological discoveries in the area of Desenzano del Garda, a small town situated on the shores of Lake Garda in Italy, indicate the presence of human settlements since the Early Bronze Age (2,000-1,800 B.C.). The prehistoric culture that had settled in the area during this period is known to archaeologists as the Polada culture. The Archaeological Museum G. Rambotti, named to honour the discoverer of the Polada culture, Prof. Giovanni Rambotti, holds in its collections world's oldest aratrum dating back to 2,000 B.C.

Not far from the lakeside, in the western part of Desenzano's old town, lies the archaeological area of a Roman villa belonging to the late Roman period (1st Century A.D.). The villa, discovered in 1921, extends over an area of one hectare and is considered one the most important examples in Northern Italy of "the great Roman villae" of that period. Toward the end of the Roman Empire, the general economic crisis caused the disappearance of small and medium sized countryside properties, favouring the formation of a limited number of great villae. It was a period, when the so called "possesores", deprived of their political power, were forced to abandon the city and relocate into their luxurious villas in order to reacquire (not only formally) their auctoritas. The Roman villa was built close to the via Gallica, that once connected Bergamo, Brescia and Verona. The archaeological site is subdivided in 4 sectors (A,B,C and D) and besides the Antiquarium with several artefacts such as sculptures (Dionysus, Eracles etc.), pottery, bronze tools, jewellery and oil lamps, other points of interest are the octagonal vestibule, the peristyle, the entrance hall, the sumptuous aula trichora and the viridarium, complete with a nymphaeum. In the Antiquarium is also exposed a rare and exceptional cup made of glass incised with Christian symbols (2nd Century A.D.). The magnificent mosaic floors of the villa are decorated with scenes of hunting, fishing and geometric figures of ancient religious-spiritual symbols, among others different representations of the Flower and Tree of Life. The east-facing villa is doubtless an elaborate building of large extent, whose residential parts alternate with rustic structures. The villa overlooked the lake and the lake must have been a decisive element in the layout of the various rooms. The main paths of the villa were oriented orthogonally to the coast. Moreover, the villa had doubtless its embranchments on the lake. They were made up by piers and wharves and perhaps by pools (piscinae) for fish farming. During the archaeological itinerary (Sectors A and C,D) can be observed what left of the villa's hypocaust system (the ancient Roman central under floor heating system).

Another place a visit worth is Desenzano’s medieval castle, situated on the hill that dominates the harbour and large part of surrounding areas. It was built during the Dark Ages as a defence from the barbarian invasions. It keeps inside 120 houses and a church dedicated to Saint Ambrose. If you go down along via Castello, the quickest and steepest way that connects the upper town with the lower part, you will arrive in the main square where everything harks back to the Venetian rule.

References: 

- Citta di Desenzano del Garda

- Museo Archeologico G. Rambotti

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