From the Delta to Parliament: the Stele of the Roses and the treasures of San Basilio
Photo: University of Padua
The Roman find from Ariano nel Polesine presented in Rome. From Albergo Italia in Porto Tolle, you can see it for yourself, just half an hour away.
The Po Delta is not only water, lagoons and fishing: it is also one of Italy's most layered landscapes. That was the message of the meeting "The Stele of the Roses – The Ocarina Museum/Workshop", held in the press room of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, where archaeologists, university lecturers and local representatives brought two stories from Ariano nel Polesine to Rome: the Stele of the Roses, the Roman find unearthed at San Basilio, and the old craft of the ocarina, still alive in the village of Grillara.
The Stele of the Roses
It is a 3rd-century AD marble slab with about thirteen lines of text still legible. It records a funerary foundation: a private citizen left part of his estate to a collegium, an association of citizens, which in return undertook to look after the tomb and to hold yearly rites at the grave of a woman. The inscription was studied by epigraphist Alfredo Buonopane of the University of Verona.
The stele came to light in 2023 during the University of Padua excavations led by Caterina Previato, north of the Roman villa, in a layer of fill: so it was not in its original place, but nearby a large marble sarcophagus had been found in the 1980s, now also on display at the Centre. San Basilio's cemeteries have not yet been located, and the size of the slab suggests monumental tombs. Restored by the Ar.Co. laboratory thanks to the Rotary Club Porto Viro – Delta Po, it has been on display at the Cultural and Tourist Centre since 5 September 2026.
Why "of the Roses"
Among the lines you can make out words such as ROSAE, ANNIS and FUNERA: roses, every year, funeral rites. The Romans had a festival, the Rosalia, when between May and June roses were brought to the graves of loved ones. The exact link with this stele is a matter for scholars; we like the idea that two thousand years ago, in the Delta, someone wished to be remembered with one rose a year.
Why San Basilio is special
- 6th–5th century BC: a landing on a branch of the Po where Etruscans, Greeks and Veneti met, studied by Ca' Foscari University of Venice
- Roman times: a staging post on the Via Popillia, marked on the Tabula Peutingeriana as mansio Hadriani, with the country villa excavated by the University of Padua
- Middle Ages: the small church of San Basilio (9th–10th century) on the fossil dunes of the island of Ariano
A day of art and culture from Porto Tolle
From Albergo Italia or Alloggi Centrale, San Basilio is about half an hour by car, or a ride along river banks and fields by bike. A possible day: in the morning the Cultural Centre and archaeological area, with the immersive room and VR headsets; in the afternoon the National Archaeological Museum of Adria or Pomposa Abbey, completing the journey through Etruscans, Romans and the Middle Ages; in the evening, dinner at RistòItalia with fish from the Pila market. To add the water to your journey through time, try a boat trip with Delta Escursioni. Discover more of the territorio.
Breakfast at the Museum, Sunday 8 November
The tastiest way to meet the Stele of the Roses? Colazione al Museo for Cappuccino Day: Sunday 8 November 2026, 9:30 am in San Basilio, with Mister Caffè cappuccino, a guided tour by Co.Se.Del.Po and the immersive room. €15 adults, €10 children, booking required on +39 392 925 9875. You'll find the same coffee every day at RistòItalia.
Useful info
- Where: San Basilio Cultural and Tourist Centre, Ariano nel Polesine (RO), about half an hour from Porto Tolle
- What to see: Stele of the Roses, marble sarcophagus, museum, archaeological area, church of San Basilio
- Opening hours: vary by season. Ask at the Albergo Italia reception: we'll help you plan your visit
Frequently asked questions
- Where can I see the Stele of the Roses?
- At the San Basilio Cultural and Tourist Centre in Ariano nel Polesine (RO), where it has been on display since September 2026.
- How far is San Basilio from Porto Tolle?
- About half an hour by car: an easy trip from Albergo Italia or Alloggi Centrale.
- What else is there to see?
- The museum, the archaeological area of the Roman villa, the medieval church and the fossil dunes; nearby are the National Archaeological Museum of Adria and Pomposa Abbey.
- Why is it called the Stele of the Roses?
- The inscription mentions roses and rites to be repeated every year at a grave: a custom recalling the Roman Rosalia, when roses were brought to the dead.
