An 1,800-year-old Roman building was exposed last month during excavations at the walls around Jerusalem National Park in the City of David.

The 3,280-square-foot building is believed to have been part of a mansion of a wealthy individual. The center of the two-story structure features a large open courtyard surrounded by columns and galleries in between the rows.

“We know of no other buildings in Israel from the Roman period which have a similar plan to that of the building from the City of David,” says Dr. Doron Ben-Ami, Excavation Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “This is truly one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries in Israel in quite some time.”

A large quantity of fresco fragments with painted designs consisting of geometric and floral motifs were found in the collapsed ruins. Also, a marble figurine in the image of a boxer with a gold earring and 1,600-year-old coins were discovered on the floors of the building.

For more information, visit www.cityofdavid.org.il. For more information about travel to Israel, visit www.goisrael.com.

This week’s travel tune comes from Israeli singer Shiri Maimon and the song is called “Ahava Ktana”