Villas of Ancient Rome - IBAM

too, was almost certainly erected by
Aurelian. It was recovered in 1735 and
after being transported to the Lateran,
was placed in front of the church of the
SS. Trinità dei Monti by pope Pius VI in
1789. The villa always remained one of
the most celebrated and admired in the
city but it was almost entirely
destroyed during the “sack” of the
Goths led by Alaric who entered into
the city through the nearby Salaria
gate. The imposing remains of what
must have been the main edifice are
visible today at the centre of piazza
Sallustio, up to 35 metres below the
street level. The different sections of
the villa alternated with vast green
areas. The main edifice was completely
reconstructed at the time Hadrian.
It appears to be developed on two levels
around a large rotunda of the diameter
of 11.20 metres, and a “shellshaped”
vault. The walls had niches
that were originally covered with a
wainscotting of marble slabs and stucco
in the upper sections. The hall is
preceded by a vestibule and flanked
by two rooms (maybe nymphaea). At
the far end, past a room that was symmetrical
to the vestibule and had two
niches in the walls,
there was a
large rectangular
hall
with a small
apse, a barrel
vault and
two smaller
chambers
on the sides.
Other remains
of the villa are visible
within the confines
of the American Embassy (part of a
cryptoporticus with wall paintings)
and in via Lucullo (section of wall
with niches). The villa probably also
included the large cistern dating from
the age of Hadrian composed of four
parallel, communicating naves. It is
now in the basement of the German-
Hungarian College in via S.Nicola da
Tolentino.
THE VILLAS
OF THE CITY
OUTSKIRTS
Villa of Sallust:
The Obelisk
of Trinità dei Monti
Villa of Sallust:
Relief with
the birth of Aphrodite,
known as “Trono Ludovisi”
(Museo Nazionale Romano –
Palazzo Altemps)
Villa of Sallust:
The Dying Gaul
(Capitoline Museums)
VILLAS
OF ANCIENT
2 3
ROME