The Basilica (Piazza Armerina)

 place with historical importance, listed building / architectural heritage

The Basilica, located between the two apartments, is reached by walking through the corridor of the “great hunt” and climbing a few steps. An exceptionally elaborate mosaic introduces this space, which is an audience hall and the most official room in the residence. The hall is accessed through a grand monumental entrance divided by two tall columns of pink Egyptian granite. The richest decoration in the villa is found in this room: precious polychrome marbles coming from all over the Mediterranean, which were used to face not only the floor but also the walls of the grand apsidal hall. The finds discovered during the excavations lead to the theory that the apse vault was decorated with glass mosaics.