The Roman villa of Piantarella (Corsica)

The Roman villa of Piantarella, located on the southern tip of Corsica overlooking the Strait of Bonifacio, is one of the largest and most remarkable residential complexes known on the island. Covering more than 3,000 m², the site is organized around a vast central courtyard bordered by residential quarters, service areas, and an extensive bath complex. Its monumental character, exceptional maritime setting, and the widespread use of opus reticulatum— a rare construction technique in Corsica — make Piantarella a key site for understanding Roman architecture and elite presence in insular Mediterranean contexts.

Excavated intermittently throughout the twentieth century, the site long suffered from fragmented archives, uneven methodologies, and unpublished material. Since 2015, a new research program directed by Gaël Brkojewitsch, who also supervises this publication project for the White Levy Program, has combined stratigraphic excavation, photogrammetry, LiDAR survey, and specialist studies to reassess the villa comprehensively. The project aims to produce the first complete monograph and to renew our understanding of Roman maritime villas, economic networks, and cultural dynamics in Corsica.