Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana), Tivoli
Must-SeeThe emperor's 120-hectare retreat — a miniature empire with pools, temples, and recreations of places Hadrian visited. Plan 3-4 hours.
Villa d'Este, Tivoli
Must-SeeA Renaissance cardinal's fantasy garden — 500 fountains, grottos, and water features. The Organ Fountain plays music. UNESCO-listed.
Villa Romana del Casale
Must-See3,500 sq metres of floor mosaics — the "bikini girls" and hunting scenes. Italy's finest Roman decorative art.
Villa of the Mysteries, Pompeii
Must-SeeA complete Roman villa with the famous mystery religion frescoes — life-size figures in a ritual sequence. Haunting.
Villa Jovis, Capri
Must-SeeTiberius's cliff-top palace — ruins with the best view on Capri. A 45-minute walk from Capri town. Free.
Where to start
Italy has the world's greatest concentration of roman villas. Use this guide to find the masterpieces — then let yourself be surprised by what you discover on your own.