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Palazzo (townhouse)

The slumber of a palace... During excavations in advance of the construction of a Cantonal road, a unique 'palazzo' was discovered near the present-day visitor car park. Although only the central wing of the large complex was examined, eleven mosaics came to light there! Right: Photograph of the large open-area excavation of 1978

Today:		In Roman times:
After a cursory examination and the recovery of the mosaics, the ruin was left to its own devices for a number of years, until it was finally filled in to protect the architectural remains. Once funding has been secured, it will once again be uncovered at some stage (only information panels on site refer to the luxurious building still lying below ground). Some of the mosaics found here once adorned grand halls and can now be seen in the basement of the curia. The 'palazzo' (townhouse) is the largest and most magnificently furnished villa complex discovered in Augusta Raurica to date. The fact that two blocks of houses (insulae) were used for the construction of the huge building and the public road between the blocks was abandoned is testament to the great influence the owner of this house must have had in the town. Because only the central wing of the complex has been excavated so far and only a small number of walls of the remainder of the house are known from aerial photography, the function of the palace remains a mystery for the time being.
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