Ronchi dei Legionari: Roman Traces and Karst
Accommodation in Ronchi Dei Legionari
Ronchi dei Legionari lies on the slopes of the Karst. The town combines Roman archaeology with Venetian architectural history and a hiking route that leads as far as Androna Palmada.
File:Ronchi dei Legionari GO, Italy - panoramio.jpg
Photo: pazzosi via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Roman Villa: Settlement and Mosaics
The Villa romana di Ronchi dei Legionari was a residential and production settlement. The settlement was established around the middle of the 1st century BC and continued, with various modifications, until the 3rd century AD. A fire led to its final abandonment. The various modifications belong to the chronological development of the same settlement. A visitor route with a footbridge and information panels leads through the building complex. Mosaic floors still visible on site are polychrome or feature geometric black-and-white designs and are decorated with marble inlays. The mosaic floors complement the architecture with colourful and geometric details.
Antiquarium in the Town Centre
The Antiquarium comunale di Ronchi dei Legionari opened in 2012 and is housed in the specially restored barn of an 18th-century manor villa in the town centre. In the Antiquarium, you can see mosaics, coins, ceramics, glass, metal objects and building materials from the Roman settlement. Inside Villa Blasig, there is also a floor mosaic depicting Jesus, as well as two wall panels showing Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The religious depictions in Villa Blasig thus stand alongside the Roman groups of finds in the Antiquarium.
Architecture in the Town
The Chiesa di San Lorenzo Martire was extended and completely renovated in 1645. Palazzo Giraldi-Fabris is the oldest surviving Venetian palace in Ronchi dei Legionari. Count Antonio Giraldi commissioned its construction at the end of the 17th century, where old roads converged; today, it is owned by the Fabris family. The church and palazzo therefore belong to different periods: the church was renovated in 1645, while the palazzo was built at the end of the 17th century.
On Foot to the Cavea
If you would like to explore Ronchi dei Legionari on foot, the hiking route follows the Cavea. This is an ancient amphitheatre that is now used as a skatepark. The route also reaches Androna Palmada, the oldest hamlet of Ronchi dei Legionari. The Cavea's current use as a skatepark gives it a present-day function, while Androna Palmada, as the oldest hamlet, forms the route's further destination.
Location of the Sites
The archaeological complex of the Villa romana di Ronchi dei Legionari lies in a rural area west of the town of Ronchi dei Legionari. The Antiquarium comunale is located in the town centre. The complex is near Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport; Ronchi dei Legionari is also home to a regional airport. For a visit to the town, this means distinguishing between the locations: the Roman villa belongs to the western outskirts, while the Antiquarium is in the centre.
More Destinations
Marina Julia, Mariano Del Friuli, Fogliano Redipúglia, Gabria, Peci, San Pier d'Isonzo, Cormòns, Grado
To the higher-level travel overview: Gorizia.
