CAPRI, Villa Jovis
Language: English / USA
Villa Jovis is the grandest of the imperial residences built on Capri by Tiberius in the 1st century AD.
This extraordinary 7,000-square-meter villa is located at the northeastern tip of the island, on one of the highest rock spurs, with breathtaking panoramic views of the Bay of Naples.
It was built around the year 27 AD, when the Emperor Tiberius decided to retire to Capri, moving away from Rome and its intrigues, but not from politics.
Despite the distance, he was able to communicate with the capital of the empire quite efficiently. A complex system of signal towers along the coast sent and received coded light signals and transmitted them, from tower to tower, all the way to Rome.
Unfortunately, after Tiberius' s death in 37 AD, the villa gradually fell into disuse and was partly looted.
It was rediscovered in the 18th century, but the actual excavations did not begin until the following century, bringing to light much of the structure we can admire today. These excavations have provided a better understanding of the architectural complexity of the villa and the luxury in which Tiberius lived during his final years.
The villa is structured on several levels, following the lay of the rocky terrain, and consists of a series of residential buildings, baths, gardens, and service areas, all connected by corridors and stairways. The complex also included a lighthouse, one of the oldest in the world, which guided ships in the bay.
The main entrance led into a vast courtyard, which in turn led to the various parts of the residence. At the center of the complex was the emperor's private residential area, consisting of a series of rooms that faced an inner garden surrounded by porticoes. One of the most striking features of the villa is the cistern, a huge underground tank for collecting rainwater.
Although many of the rich original decorations have been lost, excavations have uncovered remnants of mosaics, frescoes, and floors that testify to the luxury and elegance of the interior. The villa was decorated with artwork, sculptures and precious objects that reflected the emperor's status and power.
