A number of Latin authors, including Martial and Pliny, affirmed that the well-being of the soul and the body should be sought after in places away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The ideal place was identified with the suburban villa, which is an architectural complex away from the urban centre; a place intended for practising otium, which means contemplation and study.
We are about to visit a wonderful villa reserved for otium. It was built overlooking the sea in the ancient city of Oplontis, rich in rooms, gardens and unique frescoes.
Before the eruption, the villa overlooked the gulf which is almost 500 metres from us now. While crossing the frescoed halls and walking by the pool, we will imagine we can still feel the breeze and the scent of the sea.
The villa is called Poppea's Villa since the discovery on this site of an amphora featuring an inscription that refers to Poppea Sabina's family. She was a beautiful woman and Emperor Nero's second wife.
The villa was buried following the volcanic eruption in 79 AD, while it probably was under renovation or expansion works - which were frequent in its 150 years of existence.
Poppea's Villa was partly excavated during the excavations of Pompeii carried out in the Bourbon age, but only in 1964 systematic excavations and studies of the area started.