This image was originally taken as part of my observational and street series from my travels around Italy. Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana), often referred to as Hadrian’s Palace, is a sprawling archaeological complex located near Tivoli, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) northeast of Rome.
Built between 118 and 138 AD by Emperor Hadrian as a retreat from the chaos of Rome, it served as both a luxurious residence and, later, his official seat of government. Covering approximately 120 hectares (296 acres), larger than Pompeii, it was the grandest Roman villa ever constructed, blending architectural influences from Greece, Egypt, and Rome to create an “ideal city.”
