THE ROMAN VILLA: PARS RUSTICA

The rustic villas flourished mostly in Etruria, Latium and Campania, not far from the harbours or easily connected to them.Highly oriented towards the Mediterranean markets, they produced oil and wine.

The plan of pars rustica

The plan of pars rustica

1. Fauces: an entrance hallway led into an atrium or a courtyard covered by a portico facing the service areas

3. Gardens: they surrounded the rooms; there were different areas used as orchards or vegetable gardens but also for otium, walks and refreshment from the summer heat.

2. Atrium: in the courtyard there was always a well or a tank high up, called castellum aquae, which kitchens, bathrooms and stables drew water from.

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