Villa dei Quintili

State property only since 1986, the Quintili Villa was the largest and most sumptuous residence of the Roman "suburbium". The original nucleus belonged to the Quintili brothers, consuls in 151 A.D., and was enlarged when the villa became imperial property under the emperor Commodus who enjoyed living here because of  the peaceful countryside and the villa's thermal baths. The villa extends between the ancient Appian Way  and the current Via Appia Nuova and was built around a large square. The most impressive construction nucleus is formed by the residential area for the masters and servants: a round building, a series of rooms and the two large bath quarters called "calidarium" (hot water basins) and "frigidarium" (cold water basins), fourteen metres high with large windows and polychrome marble. The monumental complex is terraced over the Roman countryside and offers a view that has inspired many famous artists throughout the centuries.