Villa of Domitian

The Villa of Domitian, known as Albanum Domitiani or Albanum Caesari in Latin, was a vast and sumptuous Roman villa or palace built by emperor Domitian (r. 81–96 AD). It was situated 20 km (12 mi) from Rome, high in the Alban Hills where summer temperatures are more comfortable. It faced west overlooking the sea and Ostia. To travellers on the via Appia it would have made an impressive sight. It gained a notorious reputation among ancient authors from Domitian's rule but this may have been unjust. It was one of several palaces developed by Domitian outside Rome, such as that "at Circeii" (Sabaudia). Today the remains of the villa are located mostly within the papal Villa Barberini property, the most prominent of the villas in the pontifical estate of Castel Gandolfo, and the rest in the towns of Castel Gandolfo and Albano Laziale. The Villa Barberini gardens are open to visitors. The remains have not been excavated and a complete plan is not available, hence the papers of Lugli in 1913-20 are still the basis of later work.