‼️VILLA ADRIANA - THE MARITIME THEATER

✅ The Maritime Theater is the iconic building of Hadrian's Villa, unique for its shape and curved architecture, one of the most famous and photographed.

✅ In the sixteenth century Pirro Ligorio named it 'La Rota’ (the Wheel), for its shape. Then it became the 'Natatorium' (Swimming place) because it was possible to swim in its circular channel. At the end of the nineteenth century, the French architect Blondel invented the name “Maritime Theater”, because of its magnificent marble friezes with Sea monsters and animals.

✅ There is an outer circular portico and an artificial island in the center surrounded by a canal which was like the moat of a castle. Once there were two small wooden rotating bridges, so that the emperor could isolate himself in total privacy. Today there is a masonry bridge, but it is closed to the public.

✅ The island was the most private and exclusive place of Villa Adriana. A real miniature villa with a central atrium and a fountain, surrounded by a curved portico, onto which various rooms opened. The main room to the south was a Triclinium, flanked by two smaller rooms.

✅ On the east side, there was a double sleeping room (cubiculum), with niches for the beds and single latrines. On the opposite west side was a miniature Spa, with a heated room and a water basin for cold baths, from which with a few steps it was possible to go in the circular channel and swim.

✅ The building was completely revetted and paved with precious marbles that are lost. Several fragments of the magnificent frieze with Sea monsters are preserved. Some are in the Antiquarium of the Villa, others in the Accademia dei Lincei at Rome, or in the Villa d’Este at Tivoli.

‼️Total privacy in a miniature Villa!