Abstract
The architectural remains of the ancient Villa of Livia, an estate owned by the wife of Augustus, lie on a large plateau that overlooks the Tiber valley, near the modern town of Prima Porta, approximately nine miles north of Rome along the Via Flaminia. This complex is one of the largest known imperial villas, covering more than 8 ½ square miles. In antiquity, the villa was known as ad Gallinas after a famous omen that foreshadowed the end of the Julio-Claudian line of emperors. Despite the villa’s stature and place in history, very little material written in English exists about this site other than what has been published about the most famous finds from the mid-nineteenth century excavations—the magnificent statute of Augustus, which is now displayed in the Vatican museum, and the beautiful garden frescoes, which are on display in the preserved in the National Museum in Rome. Since 1970, the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma has conducted extensive excavations, partially restored parts of the villa, and produced a site map. However, all of this work is documented in Italian, which makes the information inaccessible to English-speaking visitors. This guide is intended as a reference for the English-speaking visitor to understand the villa’s historical and cultural value. First, it provides a short biography of Livia and the historical significance of the villa. Second, it describes the major excavations that have been carried out since the mid-nineteenth century and the major finds from each effort. Then, the guide takes the reader on a tour of the excavated areas of the villa. These areas include the residence, the thermal baths, the peristyle and adjacent rooms, the gardens, and the underground complex where the garden frescoes were found. The guide concludes with recommendations for other museums to visit in Rome for further information on the Villa of Livia.