Preservation of Roman villa in Amyntaio, Florina

The overall project encompasses the conservation and presentation of the architectural remains, the construction of protective shelters for the mosaics, the creation of visitor pathways, the development of reception and visitor service facilities, as well as the installation of drainage infrastructure and lighting systems. With a total budget of 2.5 million euros, the project has been incorporated into the Integrated Spatial Investment for the Lakes and Rivers of Western Macedonia and is funded under the 2021-2027 NSRF programme, according to an official announcement by the Ministry of Culture.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, stated: "The Roman villa - an unusually large urban residence - was brought to light in 2017. Covering approximately 5,100 square metres, it dates to the Late Roman period (2nd-5th century AD). It lies just outside the town of Amyntaio, in the region of ancient Eordaia, which, from the time of Philip II of Macedon, belonged administratively to the Kingdom of Lower Macedonia. The complex displays an extensive and intricate ground plan, organized into five wings around open courtyards. It comprises large and small rooms, porticoes and corridors, baths, a domestic shrine dedicated to Zeus, and luxurious spaces adorned with wall paintings, sculpture, and mosaics of exceptional craftsmanship, notable for their compositional richness and thematic diversity.

The Ministry of Culture allocated the necessary funding, through the National Development Programme, enabling the competent Ephorate of Antiquities of Florina to prepare the requisite studies for the project's inclusion in a funding scheme. Our objective is to render the monument legible and appealing to visitors, as the enhancement of each monument and archaeological site functions not only as an educational resource and a means of reinforcing both individual and collective identity, but also as a driver of local development. For the Ministry of Culture, the promotion and sustainable utilization of cultural heritage are intrinsically linked to sustainable development and the strengthening of local communities."

Eordaia had already been inhabited since the late Hellenistic period, as evidenced by the remains of an agro-industrial building. During the Roman imperial era, the region experienced significant prosperity, accompanied by transformations in its economic and social structures and the consolidation of large landed estates.

The villa extends over approximately 5,100 square metres and is arranged into five distinct wings-north, east, central, south, and west-separated by courtyards and elongated corridors or porticoes. The central wing constitutes the most luxurious core, featuring rich decorative features, mosaic floors, and reception halls; it appears to have played a pivotal role during the villa's period of peak prosperity. The western wing houses an extensive bath complex, while the northern wing has a predominantly private character, including a smaller bath and statues of deities. The eastern and southern wings exhibit a complex construction history, with later additions.

The spaces of the villa are clearly differentiated between public and private functions: the bath complexes in the western wing and the opulent halls of the central wing likely served public or semi-public purposes, whereas the southern wing appears to have functioned as a private residential sector. In total, approximately 175 distinct spaces have been identified, many of which - covering an area of 610 square metres - are decorated with mosaics and wall paintings. Temporary protective shelters and water drainage systems have already been installed to safeguard the monument.