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Villa Giulia
In Ventotene a journey through time awaits you among the ruins of an imperial villa that continues to enchant and inspire: Villa Giulia.
Imagine yourself catapulted to the end of the first century B.C., when the emperor Augustus, with a touch of grandeur and luxury, decided to raise this sumptuous mansion for his illustrious imperial family. A veritable paradise on earth, not only for the emperor, but also for the noble matrons of the Julio-Claudian family, who are as a matter of fact exiled here. Prominent among them are such figures as Julia, the emperor's daughter, who spent no less than five years here, and her mother Scribonia, Agrippina Major, daughter of Julia and wife of Germanicus, as well as Octavia, the repudiated wife of Nero.
Immersed in the Punta Eolo Promontory, this residence stretches out an impressive 300 meters in length and 100 meters in width, with a breathtaking view of the eastern horizon that embraces each sunrise in all its magnificence. The villa is a blend of residential elements, such as courtyards, elegant rooms, enchanted gardens, mysterious cisterns and restorative baths, and rustic farming structures and servants' quarters. Among its marvels, we find an area called Xystus where horses were trained among lush gardens, and a series of nymphaeums and spa areas, located along the vast tuffaceous terrace halfway up the hillside, offering a spectacle of rare beauty.
However, over the centuries, the villa has been partly destroyed by the elements and the saltiness of the sea. In the Eighteenth century, some passionate antiquarians, friends of the Bourbons, plundered this forgotten gem, and for too long it was used as a quarry for the extraction of building materials. However, its story was not lost forever. Today, in the archaeological museum, you can see part of the frescoes and stuccoes that tell us of the stories of a golden age.
Its creator had a clear goal from the beginning: to harmoniously blend the surrounding nature with the architectural structures, mainly built using an opus reticulatum brickwork. The extraordinary scenic effect that you will have the pleasure of discovering is not the result of artificial constructions, but of respect for the natural topography, following the plateaus, depressions and slopes of the terrain.
The history and beauty of this place are ready to amaze you. All you have to do is to come.
