The chapter discusses the villa culture that developed in Italy during the Republic and spread to the wider Mediterranean world during the imperial period. It shows that despite some regional differentiations in the choice of building material and specific solutions, villas shared a common architectural and decorative language.The ideals of otium, of villa hospitality, and of idealized agricultural productivity were also a shared language among rich and educated villa owners. the chapter stresses that villas were not isolated entities in the rural landscape but part of an organic system of cities and towns, smaller farms, and transport infrastructure.
Marzano, A. (2026). Building and Dwelling: Roman Villa Culture. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.
Building and Dwelling: Roman Villa Culture
Marzano, Annalisa
2026
Abstract
The chapter discusses the villa culture that developed in Italy during the Republic and spread to the wider Mediterranean world during the imperial period. It shows that despite some regional differentiations in the choice of building material and specific solutions, villas shared a common architectural and decorative language.The ideals of otium, of villa hospitality, and of idealized agricultural productivity were also a shared language among rich and educated villa owners. the chapter stresses that villas were not isolated entities in the rural landscape but part of an organic system of cities and towns, smaller farms, and transport infrastructure.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
