In Morbio Inferiore (to the south of the Lago di Lugano), at the locality Mura, part of a villa was excavated in 1920, 1987 and 1999. During the early excavations walls of a few rooms were found with two apses and a hypocaust. Remains of a black-and-white mosaic were unearthed, and, in the smaller apse, tesserae of a polychrome mosaic, also of glass paste, some gilded. The latter mosaic may have decorated the niche rather than the floor. Some walls were decorated with marble. In 1987 and 1999 a long hall was found with traces of subdivisions. The hall ended in a large apse. Next to the hall was a small round structure.
Plan of the site. Agustoni 2005, Fig. 5.
Tesserae of the polychrome mosaic. Photo: Verga 2022(2), Fig. 8.
The church of San Giorgio near the remains of the villa. Photo: Wikimedia, Francesco Piraneo G.
In Morbio Inferiore three fragments of inscriptions were found, two funerary inscriptions (EDCS-04900355, EDCS-08000559), and a small fragment in the villa (EDCS-82600004).
Literature
Crivelli 1943(1), 83ff.; Crivelli 1943(2); Von Gonzenbach 1961, 135-136; Agustoni 2005; Verga 2021; Verga 2022(1); Verga 2022(2).
[22-Jan-2024]
