If you've ever driven to Rome’s Ciampino Airport, you can’t have missed the imposing ancient Roman Villa, The Villa of the Quintili, (Villa dei Quintilili in Italian) located between Via Appia Antica and Via Appia Nuova, just outside the traditional boundaries of Rome.

The vast ruins that tower over the green fields of the Roman countryside,

were built by the rich and cultured brothers Sextus Quintilius Maximus and Sextus Quintilius Condianus, consuls in 151 AD, during the course of the 2nd century. The luxury abode, the largest, grandest and most sumptuous residence of the Roman Suburbium was later expanded by the Emperor Commodus, who after eyeing the villa, had the brothers killed and confiscated the splendid villa for himself. Commodus is said to have loved to reside in the villa because of the peacefulness and tranquillity of the countryside setting and the benefits of the thermal baths housed inside the villa.

Property of the State only since 1986, the ruins of this villa are of such an extent that when they were first excavated, the site was called Roma Vecchia ("Old Rome") by the locals, as by the size, they were sure they had discovered a city.

The ruins, that sprawl across a vast area of of the roman countryside, are extremely impressive and include extensive remains of a variety of various buildings in the villa. The most impressive of which, and the highlight, is what was the residential area for the masters and servants, a circular building and a series of rooms with two large bath chambers, the "calidarium" (hot room) and "frigidarium" (cold room). The well persevered bath complex was impressively supplied by its own aqueduct.

The Villa of the Quintili, is ideal for a relaxing open-air historical stroll among the remains of a 2nd century sumptuous ancient villa. It is one of Rome’s unsung splendours, often missed off the list of tourists, well and truly off the beaten track, it has very few visitors and you are most likely to have the place to yourself.

Getting to the villa is relatively easy by Roman public transport standards. The villa backs on to the the Appian Way, however, the entrance is located on Via Appia Nuova (1092). You can reach it by taking Metro A Red line to the Colli Albani stop and then bus # 664 or # 660 from outside the Metro Stop. You'll know where to get off because you can see the mammoth ruins from the bus. 

I took an organised tour with Friends in Rome, they sporadically organise tours, it isn't a consistent feature. As with many of the ruins in Rome, they are often brought to life when explained by a guide. 

All information, such as tickets and opening times can be found at - http://www.turismoroma.it/cosa-fare/villa-dei-quintili?lang=en

Ciao for now 

Zoe