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Roman Villa of Varignano

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OPENING HOURS TICKET

Tuesday – Saturday 8.30am-6.30pm
Sunday 8.30am-1.30pm
first Sunday of the month free entry

REDUCED HOURS from 08.30 to 13.30
on the following days of NOVEMBER 2023

Tuesday 7, Thursday 8, Saturday 18, Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 November

€4 general admission*
€3 reduced-price ticket*


other discounts

€6 combo ticket (Museo e zona archeologica di Luni)*

* ticket cost variation based on Legislative Decree 1 June 2023, No. 61

 

OUR LOCATION CONTACTS
Via Varignano Vecchio
19025 Loc. Le Grazie, Portovenere SP
drm-lig.villaromana.varignano@cultura.gov.it
+39 0187 790307

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING
ACCESIBILITY

EVENTI IN CORSO
   

HISTORY


DOWNLOAD VILLA ROMANA DEL VARIGNANO GUIDE (in italian)

The archaeological area of the Roman Villa del Varignano preserves the oldest oil mill in Liguria.

The Roman Villa, inserted in a landscape-environmental context of considerable value, at the bottom of a protected cove in the location named Grazie of Portovenere (Sp), is part of a system of landings and land ownership (fundi) built by the Romans in the wide gulf of La Spezia and related to the nearby port of the colony of Luna (portus Lunae).

The villa was an integral part of an excellent agricultural land of about 30,000 square meters planted with olive groves, perhaps also with wooded and pasture areas.

Archaeological investigations have brought to light a large complex with a private landing to the sea, which combined the typical characteristics of the rustic villa and the maritime villa of otium and which had a long life, between the end of the 2nd century BC and the 6th century A.D..

The currently visible development dates to the 90/80 BC, but an earlier structure including 7 rooms with wall decorations and valuable floors dating from the late 2nd century BC, has been identified and testifies to an older phase of life. The residential part consists of two adjacent rectangular bodies but not communicating directly with each other: the wing reserved for the farmer (vilicus) and his family, consists of many rooms, and the domus equipped with rooms with high quality mosaic floors, scenographically open onto a portico overlooking the sea.

The pars fructuaria, the district used for the productive activities, consists of buildings dedicated to processing olives and storage oil. Organized according to the precepts of Cato’s De agri cultura, it consists of a squeezing machine system and a large oil cell which must have contained at least 50 ceramic jars. The press room is very well preserved, where two old oil presses operated by levers and ropes, which are very faithful to the oldest type model described by Cato.

vilicus’ house has been replaced by a luxurious master balneum room with thermal baths arranged around a large pool with a fountain.

The construction of the large vaulted cistern with two naves, an imposing water tank plastered with hydraulic mortar, dates back to this phase, as a greater amount of water was required for the spa to function.

In the following centuries, the life of the Villa continued until the beginning of the 5th century AD when the rise of the sea level and groundwater levels made the site unhealthy and dangerous and the Villa is abandoned.

Around the year 1000, the Olivetan monks began to cultivate those lands and used the ruins of the villa for terracing: the olive grove was planted again, as well as vineyards and vegetable gardens.

Attorno all’anno 1000 i monaci olivetani cominciano a coltivare quelle terre ed i ruderi della villa vengono utilizzati per terrazzamenti: viene impiantato di nuovo l’uliveto, ma anche vigneti e orti.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, three farms were built and the large cistern which stills emerges was used as a storage room for tools and animals.

DISCOVER VILLA VARIGNANO

staff

Director| Marcella Mancusi

The fruition, reception and surveillance services are guaranteed by
Michela Alberti
Gabriella Bassi
Marco Carpena
Giordano Prudente
Giordano Prudente

SUGGESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS

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DOCUMENTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87X4p-E0HEk&list=PLJKHfMxM67xHP92cAnBYtGzBqS2P6byib&index=5

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING
by train+bus
From Genoa. Take the train towards La Spezia Centrale. Reach via Garibaldi, about 8 minutes on foot. Take bus 11 (ATC company) towards Portovenere. Get off at the Le Grazie Scuole stop (about a 23-minute journey). Continue on foot in Via liberty for about 500m. Turn right on Via Varignano Vecchio.
by car
From Genoa Take the motorway towards La Spezia A15 / E31, continue for 97 km. Take the La Spezia / Genova exit. Entering the A15, keep in the left lane to turn left onto Viale Italia. At the roundabout take the first exit towards Portovenere. Go straight and after 900 m turn left onto Via Nicolo Fieschi, SP530. Continue for 1 km. At the roundabout take the 3rd exit to stay on SP530. Continue for 8 km. At the Le Grazie junction, turn left and take Via Libertà. Park at the Le Grazie Tourist Port. On foot, take Via Varignano Vecchio, continuing for about 500m.

 

accessibility
Beign updated.