11/11/2023 0 Comments Pleasure villa![]() The ruins of the Villa Jovis are fascinating to explore, especially since they were built on several levels, which was unusual for the time period. The front of the church is marked by a statue of the Madonna, which you can spot from the sea far below. This small church appears to have been built right on top of the ruins, and today it is dedicated to Santa Maria del Soccorso. In the Middle Ages, the ruins of the Villa Jovis were modified with the construction of a chapel dedicated to Saint Christopher and Saint Leonard. Quite the frightening thought in the midst of such serene beauty! Looking down the sheer 330 meter drop to the incredibly blue sea below might just take your breath away, especially when you think that this spot is known as Il Salto di Tiberio, or Tiberius’s Leap, where it is said he once threw over people who had displeased him. You’ll see the mountainous tip of the Sorrento Peninsula nearby, with the Amalfi Coast on the southern side and the town of Sorrento not far away on the northern coastline. This stunning view looking toward Naples is one of the main reasons to hike up to Villa Jovis. Vesuvius and the Roman towns, such as Pompeii, that would be devastated by the massive eruption in 79 AD. Standing at the top of the villa and looking across the Bay of Naples, it’s impressive to think back to the when Tiberius would likely stand there looking toward Mt. You’ll spot many of the styles of construction characteristic of Roman architecture as you explore the Villa Jovis. You’ll find a few signs throughout the ruins explaining the different areas of the villa, but the best part is to simply let your mind wander to imagine the mosaic covered floors and elaborate rooms and terraces as they once were when it was a grand roman pleasure villa. After Tiberius’s death in 37 AD, the villa continued to be used as an imperial villa until the 2 nd century AD. This grand villa and its gardens once covered over 7000 square meters, and a large part of the villa is open for exploration. If the weather is warm, bring water with you as you’ll be walking through a quiet and relatively uninhabited part of the island.Īs you climb to the eastern summit of the island, you’ll spot the ruins of the Villa Jovis surrounded by a grove of pine trees. Plan about 45 minutes to an hour for the uphill walk from the center of Capri Town to the Villa Jovis. ![]() ![]() Surrounded by the intense natural beauty of Capri and the stunning views from the Villa Jovis, it is easy to understand why he never left the island! While little is left of the splendor of Tiberius’s royal haunt, it is still an incredible experience to walk among the ruins and take in the views truly fit for an emperor. Never leaving the island, he preferred instead to rule the Roman Empire from his pleasure villas on Capri. The Villa Jovis was the favorite palace of emperor Tiberius, who lived on Capri for the last ten years of his life from 27-37 AD. The villa is set atop the second highest peak on the island, on the opposite side from the highest point of Monte Solaro. Dedicated to Jovis (Jupiter), the king of the gods, the Villa Jovis was the most beautiful and regal palace of them all. ![]() ![]() The Roman writer Tacitus documented that were once twelve grand Roman villas scattered across the island, each one built in honor of one of the Roman gods of Olympus. However, it is the emperor Tiberius, the successor of Augustus, who is most associated with Capri. The beauty of Capri captivated the Roman elite just as it does for visitors today, and at the beginning of the first century AD emperor Augustus visited the island and fell in love with its beauty. Villa Jovis, the fabled palace of Roman emperors.įar away from the gorgeous beaches and the fashion boutique-lined streets of Capri sit the ruins of the Villa Jovis, which was once the pleasure villa for emperors of the ancient Roman Empire. Sitting high atop the island of Capri with sweeping views over the Bay of Naples, visit the ruins of Villa Jovis ![]()
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