Roman Sussex

Today we spend the day exploring the historic city of Chichester, or Noviomagus Reginorum, whose Roman layout can be seen by its four main streets and by the remains of its ancient forum. We first view the well-preserved remnants of the Roman walls built in the 3^rd century AD to protect the city from coastal raiders. We then proceed to the stunning 12^th century Cathedral, where, in addition to a number of treasures, we see the remains of a Roman mosaic which once graced a public building. After lunch, we visit the Novium Museum, purpose built in order to display the remains of the Roman bath complex uncovered in the end of the 20^th century and housing a recently refurbished Roman gallery which also includes the Chilgrove mosaic found in the excavation of a suburban late antique villa at Chilgrove. We continue to the 15^th century Central Market Cross, which stands in the intersection of the four principal - once Roman - streets of the city. From there we explore the remnants of the amphitheater, one of the main hallmarks of a Roman city, before ending the day at the Roman cemeteries built outside the city walls.

The morning takes us to Fishbourne Roman Villa, the sumptuous palace built only 30 years after the Roman invasion, perhaps for Togidubnis. Here we admire the scale of the villa, the largest Roman dwelling in Britain, as well as remarkable mosaics, including the very well-preserved dolphin mosaic built in the 2^nd century AD when the palace was refurbished. We have special, behind the scenes access to the villa which allows us a privileged view of the archaeology of the site. After lunch, we visit Bignor Roman Villa, a Roman courtyard residence which is on a much smaller scale than Fishbourne and, built in the 3^rd century AD, is much later in date. Unlike Fishbourne, it is clearly a villa rustica, built not only as an elite residence but as a farm. Here we see some of the best preserved mosaics in Britain, including a well preserved mosaic of the Rape of Ganymede as well as an intricate a large mosaic of Medusa. From Bignor, we return to Chichester and begin our independent journeys home.