Villa di Livia, Rome

The Villa of Livia, also known as Ad Gallinas Albas in Latin, is an ancient Roman villa located at Prima Porta, approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of Rome along the Via Flaminia. It is believed to have been either part of Livia Drusilla's dowry when she married Octavian (later known as Emperor Augustus), her second husband, in 39 BC, or a gift presented to her by Octavian upon their engagement. According to historical sources like Suetonius, Livia returned to this villa after her marriage, using it as a luxurious country residence that complemented her house on the Palatine Hill in Rome.

The villa once boasted remarkable frescoes depicting garden views, which have since been relocated to the Palazzo Massimo museum in Rome. Positioned on a hill, it commanded a magnificent view overlooking the Tiber Valley and Rome. Some remnants of the retaining walls that supported the villa's terraces can still be observed today.

The strategic importance of the villa's location was derived from several factors: the presence of iron-rich cliffs of red tuff near the Tiber River, the convergence of multiple roads, and its position as the northern entrance to Rome. The name Prima Porta, meaning "First Door," originated from an aqueduct arch that crossed the Via Flaminia. This aqueduct supplied water to the villa and served as the first landmark indicating one's arrival in Rome to travelers. The Villa of Livia underwent construction and modifications in four distinct stages, with the earliest phase dating back to the Republican era and the most recent modifications occurring during the reign of Constantine the Great.

The villa's Latin name, Villa Ad Gallinas Albas, referred to a specific breed of white chickens associated with the site. Suetonius mentioned these chickens and attributed them with auspicious origins, implying they brought favorable omens.