The urban expansion of the town of Rome and the bustle of the city have
convinced some happy few to build their villa and their Domus outside
the Aurelian Wall. The region of the Vatican and the Mausoleum of
Hadrian were among the most pleasant sites.
On the picture are the gardens and the portico of C. Passienus Crispus
who was consul in 44 AD, and also the second husband of Younger Agrippina, Nero’s mother. A bird’s eye view upon the gardens and the Tiber.
It’s in the hinterland, close to his gardens that Crispus had his house
built, with a long running track close to it, to be used for races or games.
On the place where the Tiber bends towards Hadrian’s Mausoleum,
appears the immense House of Sentia,
who was Scribonia’s mother, Augustus’s first wife.
The extent of the gardens and the building let us
think that the palace might be sumptuous.
The estate of Sentia is right above Crispus’s House, in the centre of the picture.
A bird’s eye view of the estate.
But the most famous gardens and palace are undoubtedly those of the House of Domitia
that covered a huge area all around Hadrian’s Mausoleum.
This picture shows the Palace of Domitia, behind the Mausoleum,
as well as a part of the gardens. Here a bird’s eye view of the palace.
