Oh how the Romans adored their mosaics, across all of Abruzzo’s four provinces fine examples of their skillful embellishment of floors and walls have been uncovered. Thankfully most were intact, tomb robbers and those looking for materials to build their new house didn’t try to prise them from off their foundations.

Over the Roman Empire’s  1000 years, the craft of mosaics was expanded into a practical art form.  It moved on from the pebbles that the Greeks used to use and began using esserae (cubes of stone, ceramic, shells, or imported blue and green glass), that when inlaid would form brilliant and intricate and colourful designs.  These would adorn floors and walls, and could be admired from many an angle, walked on, and easily washed. Outside of dining rooms they could be found in the baths, fountains, pools, columns, and on vaulted ceilings.

The drama or the theme of the mosaic most commonly found down by your toes would reflect the status of the property owner, and so tell its own story.  Mythological scenes indicated learning, wild animals’ power and sponsorship by the owner potentially of public sports and games.

Here’s a snapshot journey through some of Abruzzo’s cities to see their best Roman mosaics

TERAMO
Lion Mosaic, Palazzo_Savini,

CHIETI
Theseus killing the Minotaur
Naples Museum

VASTO Neptune, Histonium

ATRI 1 of the fish mosaics found under the Duomo Floor

SULMONA
Santuario di Ercole Curino Reconstruction
Civic Museum

ALBA FUCENS
Mosiac take from the Temple of Apollo

Author: Sam Dunham

Sam is a very lucky midlife 'mamma' to A who is 11 and juggles her work as a self-employed freelance travel and food web content manager and copywriter and EFL teacher - she is the founder of English in the Woods. She is the co-founder of the social enterprises: The Abruzzo Blogger Community and Let's Blog Abruzzo. She is currently writing the book 'Abruzzo: Folk and Food.