Introduction
to the Web site
This site is
sponsored by
The Steinmetz
Family of
Los Angeles
The Samuel H.
Kress Founda-
tion
The Vincenzo
Romagnoli
Group
The Creative Kids
Education Foundation
Transportation
provided by
Alitalia
This site is
hosted by
UCLA's
Humanities
Computing
Facility
|
The Anio Valley to the east of Rome is rich in archaeological remains.The Roman villa on the east slope of the Colle Rotondo (980 meters above sea level) in the Lucretili Mountains near the hilltown of Licenza is one of the best preserved and most significant sites. Attributed by most scholars since the eighteenth century to the Roman poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus (Horace), this villa dates from the first century B.C. and is located just 30 miles from the center of Rome in a lovely valley near Vicovaro and Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli. Besides the impressive remains on the site, the Licenza villa is of interest because it is one of the few ancient houses whose owner we can hope to identify. This identification is possible because Horace wrote several poems about the place, and the location of the villa corresponds to the geographical indications in the poetry. Horace's Villa was situated in the Licenza Valley in the seventeenth century. The actual site was identified and a small portion was excavated in the eighteenth century. Major excavations were undertaken in the early twentieth century. Thus far, the impressive main residence of the estate has been identified, covering, in the imperial period, some 40 x 110 meters of built space and gardens. Black and white mosaics (formerly dated the Horatian period but now known to be Flavian), marble wall revetment and architectonic elements, an elaborate water system, and artistic and utilitarian remains have been found. A selection of the material is on display in the local museum in the town of Licenza. A few of the finds may be viewed here, in our Museum section.
The project will be officially completed when we publish a final report giving all the results of our investigations. |
This Web site presents
the site and the project jointly undertaken there in the period
1997-2001 sponsored by the American Academy in Rome, UCLA, and
the Archaeological Superintendency for Lazio of the Italian Ministry
of Culture. The project was made possible by the generous support
of the Steimetz Family of Los Angeles, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation,
the Creative Kids Education Foundation, and the Vincenzo Romagnoli
Group. Equally critical to the success of the project was the
tireless work of almost one hundred volunteers from twelve countries
around the world (some of our 2001 volunteers can be seen in
the photo, right). Aimed at lovers of Horace and of Roman archaeology
of all ages, you can use this Web site to learn more about Horace's
Villa and about our project.
The
goal of our project was, broadly speaking, to enlarge our knowledge
of the site in time and space. Areas adjacent to the part already
excavated, including the large central garden, were investigated
by electric and magnetic prospection, sondages, and excavation
for signs that the main residence was even more extensive than
had been previously thought. We also studied the existing architectural
remains in the hope of better defining building techniques and
periods. We improved the site by shoring up the western slope
with a new "green" retaining wall, and we attempted
to make visitors feel more welcome by installing benches and
signs (see photo, above).
