Hebdomas duodecima Wednesday April 12 Villa at Boscoreale

How did Romans live? The  vast majority lived in insulae ("islands" or  city blocks with high rise apartments, which had no running water and were largely made of wood which caused frequent fires).  Upper class Romans had a passion for villas.  They tended to build these in places that had abundant water and were not prone to swampy diseases.  By our standards, most apartments and villas were relatively small. Romans spent much of their time outdoors. There were exceptions, emperors and the very rich went for large and heavily decorated villa. Villa builders tended to bring as much of the outside inside with gardens, rain pools and open spaces.

Villa Regina. Nero's wife Pompeia.

Cubiculum-bedroom- in Boscoreale