Discesa Coroglio 36.
Napoli, Italy

The Posillipo hill takes its name from a villa constructed there in the Ist century B.C. by Publius Vedius Pollio, a wealthy roman horseman in the Augustan era. His residence bore the Greek name Pausylipon which means “a pause in unhappiness”. The name refers to the regenerative powers of this incomparably beautiful place.

The Villa occupied a site of 9 hectares and the site included buildings, gardens, vineyards and porticoes. The various areas were knowingly laid out so as to best exploit the direction of the sun, the winds and the marvellous views.

Pollio left the villa to Caesar Augustus, with a clause in his will that a funerary monument should be erected in his honour. Augustus accepted the Villa but refused to honour the man’s memory. Pollio was ill-famed for being depraved and cruel. After meeting him Cicero recounts that he is the worst man he has ever known: «numquam vidi hominem nequiorem». The Villa was inhabited until the 4th century A.D. although it underwent renovation and extension on several occasions. 

The archaeological site includes The Seiano Tunnel, the Roman Villa area and the ruins of Marechiaro. A second environmental itinerary will be added to this visit with “educational paths”.

At the present time it is possible to visit a 2 km stretch going from the Coroglio descent through the Seiano Tunnel as far as the area of the theatres.