The porticoed courtyard represents the first public/private space, located immediately beyond the entrance threshold, through the large
monumental portal
, designed to imitate a large
triumphant arch
and three vaults.
The courtyard has an irregular semicircular shape with a fountain in the centre and is surrounded on three sides by a porticoed colonnade, with
Ionic style
capitals. Its construction dates back to the Villa’s final phase of construction, when it was enlarged with new rooms; the great
triapsidal triclinium
and the
ovoid peristyle
in front of it were built and in geometric relation to the axes of these constructions, and the new entrance with the grand monumental portal was raised.
The courtyard provides connection and passageway, through its portico, for various entrances to the Villa: the entrance through the
vestibule
, the external access to the
thermal baths
and the space leading to the large external
porticoed latrine
, evidently for public use.
