Villa rustica Loc. Batuda

The strip of territory surrounding Lake Castellaro presents the highest density of findings of Roman buildings of the entire hilly area. More or less extensive traces of rustic settlements have in fact been identified in the localities of Batuda, Stremera, Primo Maggio, Breda, Case Vecchie, Dugale and Mansarine, the latter villa – entirely excavated – was certainly reoccupied in the Early Middle Ages. These are medium-small sized complexes that arose mostly between the end of the 1st century. B.C. and the beginning of the 1st century. A.D. and characterized by the constant presence of more than dignified partes urbane, embellished with mosaics and painted plaster, equipped with heating systems and sometimes even thermal baths. The small size suggests that these companies were dedicated to sheep farming but also to specialized activities: viticulture and olive growing. Of particular interest are the findings from the Batuda area, in a pleasant position near the shores of the lake: part of two adjacent rooms, belonging to a larger residential complex, one of which yielded a valuable geometric mosaic emblem with black and white tiles (exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Alto Mantua).