Villa of the Birds

The Villa of the Birds sits on Yousri Street in the Al Attarin district of Alexandria, Egypt, inside the Kom el-Dikka archaeological park just steps from the Roman Amphitheatre. The villa takes its name from a well-preserved Roman-era mosaic floor discovered here, depicting a series of colorful birds including a peacock, partridge, and parrot set within geometric borders. Dating to the 2nd century AD, the mosaic is protected under a modern shelter that allows visitors to view it from an elevated wooden walkway without stepping directly on the ancient floor. Alongside the bird mosaic, the site preserves the foundations of the villa's rooms and a smaller adjoining bath complex, giving a sense of the layout of a well-to-do Roman household in Alexandria. A visit takes about 20 minutes, easily combined with the neighboring amphitheatre and lecture halls on the same ticket. The clearest photos of the mosaic are taken from the raised walkway directly above the peacock panel, where the light is most even in the late morning. The site is quiet for most of the day, with the only notable crowding coming from tour groups passing through the wider Kom el-Dikka park around midday.