The Domus of the Stone Carpets (Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra) is one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the last decades in Italy.


It was brought to light between 1993 and 1994, when the Superintendence for Archaeological Heritage of Emilia Romagna found a complex of buildings in via D'Azeglio dating back from the Roman Republic through the Byzantine time. A particularly interesting find was a small palace, where archaeologists identified fourteen rooms and three courtyards.

The floor surface of every room was covered with marble tarsia or mosaics showing refined patterns and figures made of polychrome tesserae. After being restored, the 'carpets' of stone were placed back to their original collocation in an underground room that can be entered from the Church of Sant’Eufemia.

The 18th century church of Sant'Eufemia and the close 15th century Oratorio dei Cento Preti were included in the creation of the museum and connected to the archaeological site. The project was part of an intervention programme supported by the Jubilee law and implemented by the Archdiocese of Ravenna. Aim of this intervention was not only the preservation of the site, but also the opening of a place of great historic and religious importance to all citizens and visitors.