In our last blog, we took a quick look at some of the most amazing mosaic designs from around the world. Here, in the second part in our continuing series on the art of mosaic, we take another look at some of the most impressive mosaic works ever created.
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Villa Romana del Casale, Sicily
The Villa Romana del Casale is home to one of the most extensive and fascinating collections of Roman mosaics in the world, and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The magnificent Roman villa is located near Piazza Amerina in Sicily, and is believed to date back to the 4th century.
The rich mosaics that decorate the floor of the villa depict a variety of scenes, including the so called, ‘Great Hunt’ which features a variety of fascinating beasts, including elephants, tigers and rhinos. This 60 metre long hunting scene tells the story of groups of men attempting to capture a variety of ferocious beats in India and North Africa, before transporting these back to Rome.
The mosaics here really are a sight to behold and what’s truly remarkable is how well they have stood the test of time.
Alexander Mosaic
The Alexander Mosaic is believed to date from around circa 100 BC and is a Roman floor mosaic. It’s believed to have been originally housed in the House of the Faun, one of the largest properties in the doomed city of Pompeii.
This beautiful mosaic depicts the infamous battle between Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia. The mosaic is one of the most eminent ancient mosaics to have survived into the modern era and is now preserved in the Naples National Archaeological Museum.
In total, the mosaic is made from around a million small mosaic tiles and features an impressive level of detail.
Whilst the artist Antoni Gaudi may be more famous for his works of architecture, such as the magnificent Sagrada FamÃlia, he was also responsible for some pretty amazing mosaics too, at the Park Güell, in Barcelona. The park, which was designed by Gaudi, features an array of mesmerizing, brightly coloured mosaics, which really have to be seen to be believed.
Hopefully these fascinating mosaics will have inspired you to have a go at creating a piece of beautiful art work of your own.
Here at Roccia we’re passionate about creative tile design and are suppliers of a range of beautiful high-quality wall and floor tiles, including mosaic tiles and slate wall tiles, which are perfect for getting a little creative with the rooms in your home. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us today, by giving us a call on 01772 258 998 and member of our friendly team will be happy to help you with your enquiries.
