The Mosaic of Cadmus and Harmony Recovered in La Malena
The mosaic of the weddings of Cadmus and Harmony at the Roman site of La Malena has regained its beauty following cleaning and restoration work carried out after the villa was affected on June 13, 2025, by storms that caused severe flooding in the municipality of Azuara, Zaragoza. The General Director of Cultural Heritage of the Government of Aragon, Gloria Pérez, visited the site to assess the progress of the recovery works.
The June storms covered the protected area of the villa with water, mud, and plant debris, reaching heights of up to 1.30 meters in some areas. The most severe damage was recorded in room 26, where the mosaic of Cadmus and Harmony is located, which had been restored in 2020 with an investment of 107,960 euros. On June 15, representatives and technicians from the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage confirmed the overall state of degradation of the site.
The Government of Aragon initiated emergency efforts to restore the condition of the site. The recovery, consolidation, and protection of mosaics were awarded to Piedra Casbi S.L. for 282,469.32 euros, with completion scheduled for November 28. The specific restoration of the mosaic of Cadmus and Harmony was awarded to Ártyco, S.L. for 62,305.56 euros. The tasks included careful cleaning of the mosaic, removal of mud, consolidation, and restitution of displaced tesserae and damaged mortars.
In 2025, the fifth phase of intervention was put out to tender, awarded to Piedra Casbi S.L. for 986,150.00 euros (VAT included), with an execution period of eight months. This phase will cover more than half of the villa, allowing for restoration and consolidation of mosaics, construction of a visitor center, and opening to the public. Walkways have been established in the protected area to allow for safe visits. The investment is financed with European funds authorized by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism through the Plan for Modernization and Competitiveness of the Tourism Sector.
A hydrogeological study conducted by Consultores Técnicos Asociados, S.A. has proposed a protection system for the site through the construction of an embankment, the proposal for which will be submitted to the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation. The project for the fifth phase was modified to carry out emergency closure and covering works for the double exedra located to the west of the villa, through which water and mud entered, with an investment of 197,093.02 euros, to be fully executed in 2025. The site is expected to open to the public on March 31, 2026.
