Subjects
Subjects
The archaeological area is located near the harbor of Porto Conte (Tolomeo's 'Nymphaeus Portus' or 'Bay of Nymphaeus'), in a stretch of particular landscape value. It is lapped by the sea on the E side, a situation of serious risk for the structures and for the mosaics, some of which have been removed and placed in the National Archaeological Museum of Sassari.
Scholars believe it is a maritime villa built for the “otium” of a wealthy person. It also had to perform a productive function, to collect products from the fertile hinterland, which was probably organized in large estates, depending on the shipment to overseas markets.
Built perhaps in the first century AD on a previous settlement, it flourished until the 2nd century AD. Although it decayed, it continued to be used with structural changes and additions until the 8th century AD.
The complex, of which 49 rooms have been highlighted, develops along the coastline (N/NE-S/SO) for more than 133 m.
It consists of three blocks made with various building techniques. The cement work used for the vaults and the supporting wall cores, the square work and the work in sandstone tufelli arranged horizontally on regular planes date back to the oldest phases, by far the most used. Also present are the brick work, the stained glass work, the work in alternating rows of tufelli and bricks, the wall work consisting of a nucleus in “opus caementicium” contained within pillars erected with sandstone, and the mixed work. The use of the “opus africanum” is documented for the early medieval period and for the medieval period, the masonry in dry limestone or tied with mortar.
Body N, where an originally two-story room was also identified, probably constitutes the thermal system attached to the villa. The rooms have special planimetric features (some are apsed, one curvilinear) and rich decorations: two-tone and polychrome mosaic floors with geometric and figurative ornaments, walls with polychrome linear frescoes and splendid stuccos with geometric, floral, animal motifs and drawn from the sacred and mythological repertoire.
Particularly interesting is the stucco of a female figure wearing a cape and a chiton and wearing sandals, in the act of moving away from a table on which a cup and a candlestick base rest. In the past, a Nereid stucco was found on a marine animal. The stuccos date back to the first century A.D. The marbles also
embellished the structure, including an ionic pilaster capital and smooth, fretwork wall coverings.
The S-shaped rooms of the baths constitute the residence of the “dominus” and are also richly decorated with frescoes, stuccos, mosaics and marble coverings.
Even further S, a third block of rectangular rooms arranged in a row constitutes the “pars rustica” or “fructuaria” intended for production and service activities (warehouses, accommodation, servitudes, kitchens, etc.).
The complex was equipped in S and S/E with water supply and channeling systems.
At the villa, the remains of a late antique and early medieval settlement and burial area have been identified and partially investigated.
History of excavations
The settlement, known for some time, was excavated in 1959-60, in 1979-80 and between 1994 and 1998.
Bibliography
G. Maetzke, "Porto Conte (Alghero), Scavi e scoperte nelle province di Sassari e Nuoro", in Studi Sardi, 1959-61, pp. 657-658;
S. Angiolillo, L'arte della Sardegna romana, Milano, Jaca Book, 1987, p. 93;
F. Manconi, Villa romana di Sant'Imbenia, Sassari, BetaGamma, 1999.
How to get there
From Alghero, take the road to Porto Torres and turn south to Fertilia. At the Fertilia junction, turn south and continue in the direction of Porto Conte until you find the junction that leads to Santa Maria La Palma on the road. The archaeological area is located about 400 m from the junction, on the south side of the road.
Structure category: archaeological area or park
Content type:
Archaeological monument
Archaeology
Usability: Open
Province: Sassari
Common: Alghero
Macro Territorial Area: Nord Sardegna
POSTAL CODE: 07041
Address: SP 55 - località Porto Conte
Telephone: +39 331 3400862 +39 079 945005
E-mail: info@parcodiportoconte.it
Website: www.algheroparks.it/vivi-i-parchi/villa-romana-sant-imbenia
Facebook: www.facebook.com/parcodiportoconte
Twitter: twitter.com/parcoportoconte
Instagram: www.instagram.com/parco_di_porto_conte
April 01 - April 30
Saturday - Sunday
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Saturday - Sunday
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
May 01 - May 31
Saturday - Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
June - September
Saturday - Sunday
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Saturday - Sunday
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
October 01 - October 16
Saturday - Sunday
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Saturday - Sunday
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
October 17 - October 31
Saturday - Sunday
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Saturday - Sunday
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
November - December
Saturday - Sunday
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Saturday - Sunday
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Information on tickets and access: The ticket allows access to the museums of Casa Gioiosa, the Mase, the Maps and the state forests of Prigionette and Porto Conte - Prigionette and the Roman villa of Sant'Imbenia. The subscription includes a ticket for the integrated use of all attractions valid for 12 months from the subscription. Special closures: December 24 and 31 at 1:00 p.m., December 25, Easter.
Access mode: For a fee
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