Likely a villa has existed on this spot since the Republican period, but the massive complex that can now be visited dates in its earliest form from the 2nd century AD. It was a sumptuous private residence of the brothers Sextus Quintilius Condianus Maximus and Sextus Quintilius Valerianus Maximus, who were both consuls, one in 151 AD and the other in 182 AD. According to the story, the Emperor Commodus became quite covetous of this extensive villa and engineered tales of a plot against him involving the brothers in order to sieze their property. Certainly after their fall Commodus took control of the estate and used the Villa himself.

The main section of the villa, standing high on the hill, consists of a series of private rooms and courtyards, with marbled floors, and a section of public rooms above them with a huge marble courtyard. Just to the north of this joint complex are remains of the immense bath complex that served the villa. This is the highest standing part of the villa and is visible for some distance. Just below the caldarium of the baths is a circular courtyard with the remains of rooms leading off. In guidebooks and online this is often referred to as a garden and of unknown background. A sign now in situ tells that recent archaeological evidence has confirmed this as a private arena constructed by Commodus. Furthermore, on the other side of the complex, past a large cistern, was a stadium for private races, of which nothing sadly remains. A second cistern lies on the lower slope from here toward the Via Appia Antica and this whole slope was once a luxurious garden. At the far end stood the original entrance to the villa from the Appian way, with a monumental nymphaeum which is remarkably well preserved and yet another cistern close by. In all, the Villa of the Quintili is an impressive sight and well worth journeying out of the centre for, even without the rest of the Via Appia.

Access: The villa is paid entry and open daylight hours. It is accessed from the Via Appia Antica through the nymphaeum, but sometimes also from the Appia Nova (next to which is the museum and shop). This entrance is certainly open on sundays, as this is when we visited.

Photos in order: 1- private apartments . 2- public apartments . 3- caldarium . 4- tepidarium . 5- arena . 6- nymphaeum