European Archaeology Days at the Roman Villa of Caselette

A Roman site at the foot of Mount Musinè

The Roman Villa of Caselette, located in the municipality of Caselette (Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont), is one of the most significant Roman residential complexes in the Susa Valley. Situated on the south-eastern slopes of Mount Musinè at an altitude of about 400 meters, the site covers a quadrangular area of approximately 60 by 70 meters. During the European Archaeology Days, a continent-wide event, the villa opens to the public for free with guided tours led by archaeologists and volunteers from the Ar.c.A. association of Almese.

How the Romans lived in the Susa Valley

The complex, built in the 1st century AD and renovated several times between the late 1st and mid-2nd century, preserves significant traces of Roman daily life: thermal rooms equipped with hypocaust heating systems, a portico with terracotta capitals, and a layout spanning two building blocks with a height difference of nearly four meters. Its formal characteristics reflect Gallo-Roman villa models rather than the luxurious dwellings of central Italy, serving as a precious testimony to the cultural exchange in this Alpine crossroads.

The program of the Days

Guided tours accompany participants throughout the archaeological site, explaining the history of the excavations and theories regarding the organization of the residential spaces. This edition is linked to coordinated openings with the nearby Roman Villa of Almese, creating an itinerary that showcases the entire archaeological heritage of the territory. The Caselette site is also paired with a visit to the Primavalle Area, a nature trail on the slopes of Mount Musinè dedicated to local biodiversity, with the meeting point at the villa itself.

A shared heritage

The event is the result of a collaboration between the Ar.c.A. association of Almese, the municipalities of Caselette and Almese, and the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Turin. Admission is free, and the initiative represents a unique opportunity to discover, in the company of experts, a site that is normally accessible only by reservation on weekends from April to October.

• Guided tours led by archaeologists and volunteers
• 1st-century AD Roman site with thermal baths and hypocausts
• Complementary nature trail in the Primavalle Area
• Free admission, booking recommended