The Aporia · Rome’s largest ancient fresco and mosaic complex opens to public

The mayor of Rome, Robert Gualtieri, has unveiled the city's largest ancient fresco and mosaic complex, known as the 'Painted City', at the Baths of Trajan. The complex includes a 15-meter-high mosaic and a first-century AD wall fresco depicting a maritime city, which is believed to be the largest of its kind from ancient Rome. The site, located near the Colosseum, has been open to small groups for a weekend trial period this month, with officials monitoring how the delicate artwork handles increased humidity and climatic impacts. The complex was previously discovered during excavations in the 1990s, and is now open to the public for the first time.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-08, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

Story summary

Rome's largest ancient fresco and mosaic complex has been opened to the public for the first time, initially with limited access due to concerns about preserving the delicate artwork. The complex, which includes a grand semicircular upper-level "library" that was likely part of the world's largest bath complex in ancient Rome, features a 1st-century AD fresco depicting a maritime city and a large mosaic. The artworks were uncovered during excavations in the 1990s at the Baths of Trajan on Oppio hill near the Colosseum. Initially, only small groups of 15 people will be allowed to visit each weekend as part of a trial period to monitor how the artwork handles increased humidity and climate changes. Mayor Robert Gualtieri believes the fresco is the largest wall fresco from ancient Rome and should be open to the public for its historical and artistic significance. The complex is expected to eventually welcome broader entry, but officials are taking precautions to preserve the delicate artwork.

Written for “Rome's Ancient Mosaic Discovery” on 2026-10-23, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Rome's Ancient Mosaic Discovery

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Nicole Winfield

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The complex now open to the public includes a grand semicircular upper-level “library” which archaeologists believe was part of the baths complex and allowed users not only to practice sport and bathe but also to participate in cultural activities.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-08

🔮 Mayor Robert Gualtieri presented the newly restored ‘Painted City’ fresco alongside the ‘Great Mosaic’ this week.

2026-09-08 · The Independent

Rome’s largest ancient fresco and mosaic complex opens to public · assertive framing

What is believed to be Rome’s largest fresco and mosaic complex has been opened for public viewing. asserted

believed → believe → viewing

The first-century AD artwork depicts a maritime city, situated within what later became the largest bath complex in the world. asserted

what → depict → world

Mayor Robert Gualtieri presented the newly restored ‘Painted City’ fresco alongside the ‘Great Mosaic’ this week. asserted

Gualtieri → present → Mosaic

The works were first uncovered during 1990s excavations inside an underground gallery at the Baths of Trajan, located on Oppio hill near the Colosseum. asserted

works → uncover → Colosseum

The site is now open to the public for the first time, limited initially to small groups of 15 during a weekend trial period beginning this month. asserted

site → limit → period

Officials aim to monitor how the delicate artwork handle increased humidity and climatic impacts prior to allowing broader entry. asserted

artwork → aim → entry

Mr Gualtieri said that the fresco, displaying a walled port city from a bird’s-eye perspective, is the largest wall fresco of its kind from ancient Rome and as such ought to be open to the public. asserted

fresco → say → public

“They are truly unique in the world, both from the point of view of artistic beauty and the historic and documental importance,” he said at the unveiling. asserted

he → say → unveiling

Rome’s cultural superintendent, Claudio Parisi Presicce, said the grandeur of the port city as depicted in the fresco, with buildings, a theater and temple, public piazzas and towers, was particularly well conserved. asserted

grandeur → say → buildings

“We don’t know what city it refers to, but it must have been a particularly well-known one,” he said. asserted

he → know → city

The mosaic measures about 15 metres (49 feet) high and features intricately decorated columns and architectural elements and figures over four different levels. asserted

mosaic → measure → levels

The top levels appear as a theatrical scene, while at the bottom are designs of another depiction of a port city that were only recently discovered during the restoration. asserted

that → appear → restoration

The Baths of Trajan, which were dedicated by Emperor Trajan in 109 AD, extended over six hectares (15 acres) and were at the time the largest bath complex in the world. asserted

which → dedicate → world

They incorporated an earlier baths complex, the Domus Aurea, and were designed on a different trajectory to take better advantage of the water temperatures to optimise the thermal experience for users. asserted

They → incorporate → users

users → include → activities

Rome’s largest ancient fresco and mosaic complex opens to public

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