Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra

About the museum

The Domus was discovered by chance in 1993 during work on underground car parks and was opened on 30 October 2002 by the President of the Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, as part of the celebrations for the 1,600 years of Ravenna as capital of the Western Roman Empire. It received the Premio Bell'Italia in 2004 and the Premio Francovich in 2017.

The remains belong to a large private building of late antique and Byzantine date (5th–6th century), with polychrome mosaic floors and marble covering over 400 square metres, which Federico Zeri called “tappeti di pietra” (“stone carpets”). Entry is through the small 18th-century church of Sant'Eufemia, from which you descend to an underground room about three metres below street level.

The route runs along a raised walkway that allows close views of the mosaics of the reception rooms and the private quarters. Among the most famous are the “Danza dei Geni delle Stagioni” (“Dance of the Genii of the Seasons”), a very rare depiction of personifications dancing in a circle to the sound of a wind instrument, and the “Buon Pastore” (“Good Shepherd”) in an iconographic variant inspired by Orpheus. The site is run by the Fondazione RavennAntica.

Highlights

• Over 400 m² of mosaics and marble from the 5th–6th centuries
• “Danza dei Geni delle Stagioni” (“Dance of the Genii of the Seasons”), a very rare depiction
• Mosaic of the “Buon Pastore” (“Good Shepherd”) in an unusual version
• Route on a raised walkway in the excavation area
• Entrance through the 18th-century church of Sant'Eufemia

Founded

2002

Operated by

Fondazione RavennAntica

Visitors per year

approx. 37,982 (2022)

Admission & discounts

Tickets for individual visitors are bought at the ticket office or online. The church of Sant'Eufemia, through which the Domus is entered, is free of charge.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• 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

Between the ticket office and the underground site there is a staircase of about 30 steps; a platform lift with a maximum load of 180 kg is available (motorised wheelchairs are usually not admitted). It is advisable to notify the ticket office in advance (+39 0544 32512). At the entrance and in the underground site there are walkways without obstacles for wheelchairs.

Kids & families

For children the Fondazione RavennAntica organises dedicated events, published in the news section; for schools there are workshops and guided tours. Online game “Mosy e il mosaico misterioso” for the whole family.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Ticket office with bookshop. Free Wi-Fi for downloading the audio guide. Animals are admitted under the conditions set by the Foundation (health booklet, lead or carrier).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit