House of the Cascade, Roman home in Utique, Tunisia
House of the Cascade is a Roman residence in Utique featuring a large peristyle garden at its center surrounded by columned porticos. The garden contains a shallow marble pool framed by semicircular niches.
The residence dates from the second century, when Utique functioned as the capital of the Roman province of Africa. The house reflects the city's prosperous period and demonstrates how affluent Romans lived during that era.
Decorative mosaics inside show fishing scenes and sea creatures, with a particularly striking image of Eros angling from a boat. These artworks reveal the tastes and interests of the wealthy Roman family who made this their home.
Visitors can explore the excavated remains spread across insula II, which display Roman building techniques and design. The site is generally open for viewing, though shade is limited, so early morning or late afternoon visits are more comfortable.
The house features an advanced water system that channels flow from a fountain jet directly into the central pool. This sophisticated hydraulic engineering demonstrates the technical expertise Romans applied to creating comfortable living spaces for affluent families.
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