The restoration of an archaeological mosaic usually takes place out of sight of visitors, behind the barriers of a construction site or inside a workshop. At the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, however, work on the floors of the Bouleuterion—the council chamber of the ancient Greek city (the polis)—can be observed firsthand as it progresses: the restoration site has in fact been opened to the public and incorporated into the standard tour route of the archaeological site since September 28.
The initiative focuses on the mosaic floors of the Hellenistic-Roman building, which played a central role in the political life of the city of Akragas. The Bouleuterion was, in fact, a space dedicated to the community’s political activities, and its existence today allows us to gain insight into part of the ancient city’s institutional structure and public life. Since September 28, the public has been able to observe the conservation work firsthand, following the activities of the workers on site: the idea is to make visible not only the final result of the restoration but also the process through which an archaeological artifact is studied, analyzed, and subjected to conservation treatments.
The project was initiated by Roberto Sciarratta, director of the Valley of the Temples Archaeological and Landscape Park, with the aim of combining scientific conservation with an educational dimension: the restoration site is thus conceived as a space where the public can observe the various stages of the work up close and understand the methods used to restore the mosaics. It is not merely a matter of making an area normally reserved for professionals accessible: opening the site to the public allows visitors to follow the restoration as it unfolds, and the conservation work becomes an opportunity for learning; the operations become part of the visitor experience, and the work of the restoration team—which is normally rarely visible to the public—also serves an educational purpose.
Special attention will be given to the condition of the floors. Until the project is completed, on Monday and Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., there will be in-depth sessions and thematic meetings led by restorer Marilanda Rizzo Pinna, the project coordinator. These sessions will allow visitors to learn about the methods used during the restoration and the state of preservation of the mosaics. The restoration site is located along the standard tour route of the archaeological area of the Pietro Griffo Regional Museum. Visitors exploring the site can thus encounter the restoration work as part of their tour, without the project being separated from the rest of the archaeological route.
The restoration site will remain open to the public until the work is completed. During this period, the Bouleuterion will thus continue to be not only a place to pass through during a visit to the Valley of the Temples, but also a space where visitors can observe firsthand the work necessary to preserve one of the material testimonies to the political life of ancient Akragas.
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| In Agrigento, the restoration of the Bouleuterion mosaics is taking place at a site open to the public |
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