Villa of Livia, Ancient Roman villa in Prima Porta, Italy
The Villa of Livia is a Roman residence at Prima Porta featuring underground rooms decorated with garden frescoes. The wall paintings depict trees, flowers, birds, and fruit against a blue sky and cover all four walls of a cool chamber below ground level.
Livia Drusilla received the property as dowry when she married Emperor Augustus in 39 BC. The residence remained in imperial family ownership for generations and was later rediscovered during excavations in the 19th century.
The name Ad Gallinas Albas refers to white hens reportedly kept on the grounds, while laurel from the gardens was worn by emperors during triumphs. Visitors today see underground rooms where wall paintings show plants, birds, and fruit rendered so lifelike they seem within reach.
The tour takes visitors through underground rooms where the temperature stays cool even in summer. Access involves stairs, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
An eagle reportedly dropped a white hen carrying a laurel branch onto Livia's lap at this location, giving the site its Latin name. The original frescoes were removed in the 1950s and taken to Rome, though a faithful reconstruction now shows the painted gardens in their original setting.
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