☰Villa Romana del Casale

A 3rd-century Roman villa buried by a landslide in the 12th century and excavated in the 20th, the Villa Romana del Casale holds the largest and best-preserved collection of late Roman floor mosaics in the world. The rooms cover more than 3,500 square metres and the mosaics are astonishingly varied — hunting scenes, mythological figures, a long corridor of athletes, and the famous panel of girls in bikini-like garments exercising with weights and discus. The walkways above the mosaics let you look directly down on the scenes without risking damage, though the crowds in summer can make contemplation difficult. Come early or out of season if you can. The site is UNESCO-listed and well signposted from town, about 5km to the southwest.