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Home > Italy Travel Guide > Villa of Jupiter (Villa Jovis)

Villa of Jupiter

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Introduction
History
Location

ATTRACTIONS

Whats to see

INFORMATION

Useful information
Links

Introduction

Villa Jovis ("Villa of Jupiter") is a Roman palace on Capri built by emperor Tiberius who ruled from there between AD 27 and AD 37. Perched on the top of Mount Tiberio in an outstanding position at more than 1,200 feet above sea level, it is the largest and most sumptuous of the twelve Tiberian villas on Capri. The entire complex, spanning several terraces and a difference in elevation of about 40 m, covers some 7000 square meters (1.7 acres). While the remaining eight levels of walls and staircases only hint at the grandeur the building must have had in its time, recent reconstructions have shown the villa to be a remarkable testament to first-century Roman architecture.

History

Villa Jovis was built in the First Century AD and discovered in the Eighteenth Century under the rule of Charles of Bourbon and attributed to Tiberius. It was chosen for its position on the cliffs edge which guaranteed both privacy and security, which were of vital importance to the Emperor. A considerable percentage of the Roman villa remains, a villa which was built with large cisterns and water tanks, so as to counteract the perennial lack of water on the island of Capri. Villa Jovis was organized in sections linked by corridors, stairs and passageways. The Emperor had a North facing apartment with views over the Gulf of Naples; to the East there was the section dedicated to official functions ; the baths were to the South and to the West the servants accommodation and lavatories were located.

The remains of the villa reveal two periods of stratification. The first Augustan period is reflected by the use of calcareous stone lined with opus reticulatum and covered with plaster and paint, and also traces of marble mosaic floors, featuring both simple mosaic patterns and opus sectile designs. The second period is instead reflected by the floors covered in marble slabs and walls decorated with glass mosaics. A pillar and the shoulder of an arch located in the north-west corner of the villa testify to the former existence of a connection between the villa and lighthouse. Standing over 25 metres high, this lighthouse was used as a signal tower to communicate with the mainland, and also as an astrological observatory. Suetonius recounts how the lighthouse collapsed following an earthquake just days after the death of Tiberius. The lighthouse was later rebuilt by Domitian and remained in operation until the Seventeenth Century.

The ruins of Villa Jovis as they appear today, were largely uncovered during the 1800s and 1900s. The Villa Jovis complex was officially inaugurated in 1937, after excavation work carried out by the Archaeologist Amadeo Maiuri following strict scientific criteria. Although many of the findings unearthed were lost with some materials, such as the marble paving, even sold by weight, others may still be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Naples, the Church of St. Stefano in Capri and the Church of St. Salvatore. Some of the red and light blue vitreous paste found at the site was used to adorn the mitre and necklace of St. Costanzo.

Location

Address: Via A. Maiuri, Capri, Italy.
From Piazza Umberto I, take Via Le Botteghe, Via Fuorlovado, Via Croce and Via Tiberio, or, once again starting in Piazza Umberto I, take Via Longano, Via Sopramonte and Via Tiberio (45 mins.).

Whats to see

Villa Jovis was the main residence of Emperor Tiberius, and reflects his austere personality in its design. The north wing of the building contained the living quarters, which almost certainly housed the Emperor’s private apartments and small fragments of marble flooring can still be seen, while the south wing saw administrative use. The east wing was meant for receptions, whereas the west wing featured an open-walled hall (ambulatio) which offered a scenic view towards Anacapri.

As water was difficult to come by where the villa was built, Roman engineers constructed an intricate system for the collection of rainwater from the roofs and a large cistern that supplied the palace with fresh water. The buildings were gathered around a central complex which included four large reservoirs to contain the amount of water necessary to fulfill the requirements of an imperial palace. There were the rest of the atrium, the baths divided into the apodyterium (changing room), tepidarium (room heated to medium temperature), calidarium (heated room) and praefurnium(room with heater).

South of the main building there are remains of a watch tower for the quick telegraphic exchange of messages with the mainland, e.g. by fire or smoke.

The villa also features several later architectural additions, namely the Church of St. Maria del Soccorso, dating back to the Eighteenth Century, and two guard batteries.In the space in front of the church there is a statue of the Madonna, visible from the sea below.

Access to the complex is only possible on foot, and involves an uphill walk of about two kilometres from Anacapri.

Useful information

Telephone: +39 081/8370381

Links

Official Website of Campania Region

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