Italian archaeologists working at the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento (the ancient Greek city of Akragas) have uncovered a new thermal complex that expands the known boundaries of a Roman villa.
The discovery emerged during the latest research campaign carried out with the University of Catania, postgraduate archaeology schools, and National Research Council institutes. The excavation focuses on the Villa Romana di Durrueli in Realmonte, a key part of the wider archaeological landscape of Agrigento. The findings offer fresh insight into how the villa evolved and how its structures were organized across the historic territory.
Team investigates Argigento Roman villa’s structural phases
Researchers launched the campaign to clarify the villa’s development and to understand the purpose of its northern areas. The thermal complex’s elevated location indicates that the estate extended farther than earlier surveys suggested. Its placement adds a new dimension to the study of the villa, which grew in an area long shaped by Greek monumental architecture.
The thermal complex offers new architectural insight
The research team reports that the findings enrich the historical interpretation of the villa. The excavation supports earlier ideas about the complex’s organization but also brings missing details to light. The new information helps reconstruct how various areas of the villa functioned and how the estate changed through different phases, adding context to its position within the ancient Greek cityscape of Akragas.
Baths preserved in exceptional condition
The newly identified thermal complex is described as the most prominent discovery of the campaign. Several rooms are preserved with notable clarity, giving archaeologists an uncommon view of the layout and heating features of the baths.
Documentation of the entire heating system offers valuable insight into how Roman thermal technology operated in the villa and how these spaces fit into daily routines. Its presence highlights the scale of the estate in a landscape known for Greek temples and sanctuaries.
Future work to clarify the villa’s development
Further excavation will focus on defining the structure’s complete layout and examining its relationship to the villa’s residential zone. Researchers expect the next phase to refine interpretations of how the estate developed within both the Greek and Roman historical layers of Agrigento.
Officials highlight heritage value
Regional Councillor for Cultural Heritage Francesco Paolo Scarpinato explained that enhancement and research are their priorities. He noted that the progress at Realmonte reflects a broader commitment to protecting Sicily’s heritage. The findings, he said, offer new opportunities for residents and visitors to explore, protect, and understand the region’s Greek and Roman history.
The villa remains an active research site, with each season adding details that continue to reshape understanding of its past.
