Villa of Tiberius, Ancient Roman archaeological complex in Sperlonga, Italy
The Villa of Tiberius is a Roman complex on rocky terraces above the sea in Sperlonga, Italy, with residential rooms, service buildings, and a natural cave. The cave opens toward the water and was fitted with artificial pools and a small island in the center.
The complex was built during the reign of Tiberius between 14 and 37 AD as a retreat for the emperor. In 1957 Greek sculptures from the second century BC were found inside the cave.
The name comes from Emperor Tiberius, who spent time here in the early first century and used the cave as a dining hall. Visitors today still see remnants of the marble decoration and can imagine how Roman guests dined among the sculptures.
Access includes both the archaeological site and the museum, which are close to each other and can be visited in a single loop. The cave is reached by a short path from the main grounds.
An inscription in the cave names three Greek sculptors from Rhodes who also worked on the famous Laocoon group. The sculptures show episodes from the Odyssey, including the blinding of Polyphemus and the theft of the Palladium.
Location: Sperlonga
GPS coordinates: 41.25070,13.44979
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:31
Italy holds archaeological sites spanning several millennia, offering insights into Etruscan, Greek and Roman civilizations. These locations include necropolises with thousands of tombs, well-preserved Roman villas and ancient settlements along the Mediterranean coast. Many of these sites lie beyond the more familiar destinations and document different aspects of Italian history. The Necropolis of Pantalica near Sortino contains approximately 5,000 rock-cut tombs from the Sicilian Bronze Age, while the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii is known for its wall paintings from the first century BCE. Villa del Casale near Piazza Armerina displays Roman floor mosaics covering more than 37,500 square feet (3,500 square meters). Etruscan burial sites like the Tomb of the Orcus in Tarquinia preserve frescoes from the fourth century BCE. The Archaeological Park of Elea-Velia near Ascea includes remains of a Greek colony founded in the sixth century BCE.
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