Heritage Malta is organising another thematic heritage trail on Sunday. This time round, the focus will be on the Romans in Malta, with visits to the Roman Domus in Rabat and the archaeological site of Tas-Silg. The latter site is not open to the public, so this is one of the few opportunities that people will have to visit it.

Transport will leave Valletta at 9am, with the first stop being the Roman Domus. This site was discovered by accident in 1881 when workers were carrying out a landscaping project in Rabat. The Roman Domus was built in the beginning of the first century BC – which is when the Romans took over Malta – and remained in use until the second century AD.

One of the most striking discoveries were the fine polychrome mosaic floors that rank among the finest and oldest mosaic compositions in the western Mediterranean and compare with those found in Pompeii. High-quality portrait sculptures of an imperial Roman family and a rich array of fine Roman artefacts that used to form part of domestic belongings were also found at this site. The Roman Domus was fully refurbished by Heritage Malta and re-opened in February last year.

Following the Roman Domus, participants will be driven to Tas-Silg, which overlooks Marsaxlokk’s fishing port. This is a unique opportunity to visit this site.

Tas-Silg was identified by ancient Greek and Roman geographers and writers – most importantly in the works of Cicero – as being an active cultural, political and commercial centre of the ancient world.

Excavation works, carried out by the Missione Archeologica Italiana of the University of Rome and the University of Malta in collaboration with Heritage Malta which are still taking place, uncovered structures and artefacts dating back to the prehistoric, Phoenician, Punic, Roman, Byzantine and the Middle Ages periods.

Participation in this heritage trail is limited to 50 adults. Tickets are to be pre-purchased at Lm4 from Heritage Malta’s Head Office in Valletta. A coffee break at the Vilhena Palace in Rabat is included. For further information please call 2295 4312.