Mosaic with Drinking Doves

The Mosaics are used across the villa in most prestigious areas. The two most famous marbles found in the villa are emblemata in the Hellenistic style, the Mosaic with Drinking Doves and the Mosaic with Theatrical Masks, both now in the Capitoline Museums. The mosaics found are Black & White of Italian style or geometric and/or with floral designs, or polychrome geometric designs. Many are found in the Residential Villa and in the Golden Court.

Few Wall paintings are found under the buildings and few are in the rooms in front of Praetorian Pavilion.

Phase I (118 -125)

Libraries; northern complex of the Palace orients them (Basilica, Library); Courtyard of the Libraries; It accommodates them and annexed building; Garden to south-east of the Palace (pavilion to the northeast of the Public square of Gold); Terme with Elicamino, Maritime Theater, Stage with annexed constructions; Barracks of the Alert ones; Large Terme.

Phase II (125-133)

Small Baths; the central complex of the eastern palace; the western palace; the Tower of Roccabruna; the Piazza d'Oro; the Praetorium, the Vestibule; the hundred chambers and Poecile; the pavilion towards the Terrace of Tempe; the Canopus; the courtyard east of the stadium.

Where the wonder is !

The villa is situated 30 km east of Rome on S5, in Tivoli.

• Underground line B, Ponte Mammolo stop
  
• Bus Co.Tral direction Via Prenestina, stops at 300 m. from the site
  
• Bus Co.Tral direction Via Tiburtina, stops at 1 km from the site
  
• Bus Co.Tral direction Tivoli/highway A24, stops at 1 km from the site
  
• Train FS stop at Tivoli's station and bus line CAT number 4, stops at 300 m. from the site
  

Public Admission

The Public Admission happens (All year) Daily between 9am to 6.30pm, 4pm from Nov till Mar. The Villa is closed on New Year’s Day, Christmas Day and May Day.

The entry fee is EUR 6 ($ 5).

The Villa after its builder

Under Severans, the Villa was used even in 3rd century. Diocletian of 3rd century experienced great pleasure in using the villa. His successor Constantine took away all the artworks to his palace in his new capital, Constantinople.

After his time, the villa fell in ruin. The excavation started and continued for one millennia to the extent of not leaving even a single piece of marble untouched. But during middle ages, the marbles were burnt and recycled for further use. During 17th and 18th centuries, the remaining treasures were despoiled and distributed across Europe. The land was also divided into various separate properties. Few of the left out heritage collections are now in Vatican and Capitoline Museums.

The real excavations started in19th century in the unified Italy. In 1999 Villa Hadriana reached the honorable Human Heritage Monument list of Unesco.