Casa Romana

About the museum

The Roman House of Kos, known as Casa Romana, is a villa of the Pompeian type from the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries AD, built on the ruins of a house of the Hellenistic period. The first building phase dates back to the Hellenistic era, as shown by a section of Hellenistic masonry on the north side, and the building was inhabited, with repairs and alterations, at least until the 3rd century AD. Its large size and rich decoration led to the assumption that it belonged to a wealthy official of Kos.

The house was brought to light in 1933, after the great earthquake that destroyed almost the whole of Kos, by the Italian archaeologist Luciano Laurenzi. The Italian authorities, who then held the island, restored it in full by 1940, and a new restoration was carried out in 1976.

The 36 rooms of the villa are organised around three courtyards, two of which form peristyles of Rhodian type, that is, with two-storey colonnades. In the centre of the courtyards there are water tanks, and the floors are decorated with mosaics, most of them from the 3rd century AD, with scenes such as a panther attacking a deer, a Nereid on a hippocampus, dolphins and other beasts. Ceramic and glass vessels, coins, wall paintings and marble sculptures are displayed in the rooms, while the statues of the Nymphs and of Athena date from the late Hellenistic period.

Highlights

• Pompeian-type villa with 36 rooms and three courtyards
• Mosaics with a panther and a deer, a Nereid and sea beasts
• Peristyles of Rhodian type with two-storey colonnades
• Statues of the Nymphs and Athena from the late Hellenistic period
• Collection of finds in the rooms of the house

Permanent exhibition

• Επίσκεψη στη Ρωμαϊκή Οικία – The restored spaces of the villa with the mosaic floors, and a collection of ceramic and glass vessels, coins, wall paintings and sculptures.

Operated by

Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Δωδεκανήσου

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site is described as accessible.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The Roman House is in the centre of the town of Kos, about 10 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by car from the port. There is free car parking nearby.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit