Authorities in Rome have revealed what is considered the largest fresco and mosaic complex from ancient Rome, dating back to the 1st century AD. The discovery, made during excavations in the 1990s at the Baths of Trajan on Oppio Hill near the Colosseum, has now opened to the public in small groups of 15 people. This trial access, beginning this month and limited to weekends, aims to assess how the delicate artworks respond to humidity and other environmental factors before wider public access is allowed. At the unveiling, Mayor Robert Gualtieri highlighted the significance of the newly restored "Painted City" fresco and the "Great Mosaic." He described the fresco, which presents a bird's-eye view of a walled port city, as the largest of its kind from ancient Rome. Gualtieri emphasized its unique artistic value and historical importance, stating that it is a rare example of Roman visual storytelling. Rome’s cultural superintendent, Claudio Parisi Presicce, noted the exceptional preservation of the cityscape depicted in the fresco, which includes buildings, a theater, a temple, public piazzas, and towers. Although the identity of the city remains unknown, Presicce suggested it was likely a well-known and significant port. The "Great Mosaic," standing about 15 meters high, features detailed columns, architectural elements, and figures arranged across four levels. The upper sections resemble a theatrical scene, while the lower part reveals a newly discovered depiction of another port city. The Baths of Trajan, dedicated by Emperor Trajan in 109 AD, were the largest bath complex in the world at the time, covering six hectares. They were built upon an earlier structure, the Domus Aurea, and designed to optimize water temperatures for a more effective thermal experience. Today, the public can explore a grand semicircular upper-level "library" believed to have been part of the baths, where visitors could engage in both physical and cultural activities.