Villa Adriana (Tivoli)

The site was a network of over 30 buildings, covering an area of over 250 acres, of which much is yet to be excavated.  The villa was the greatest example of an Alexandrian garden.  The area included palaces, several thermae, theatre, temples, libraries, state rooms and quarters for courtiers, praetorians and slaves.

Many different architectural styles were employed here, mostly Greek and Egyptian and the area has an complex network of underground tunnels which were mostly used to transport servants and goods. 

A fascinating structure in the Villa is the Maritime Theatre, which consists of a round portico with a barrel vault supported by pillars.  Inside the portico was a ring-shaped pool with a central island, whereby a small Roman house complete with an atrium, a library, a triclinium and small baths had been constructed. 

Many stunning artifacts have been unearthed on the grounds, such as marble statues of Antinous, Hadrian's deified lover, and mosaics from the theatre and baths. Many replicas of Greek sculpture have been discovered, as have Egyptian-style interpretations of Roman gods and vice versa.  Most have been transferred to Rome for preservation, restoration and showcasing at the Musei Capitolini or the Musei Vaticani. 

Images

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