Spazi figurativi a Villa Adriana: il caso dell’Edificio a Tre Esedre

The Three Exedrae Building is one of the most representative places of Hadrian’s Villa. The particular plan and the connections with adjacent buildings show that this complex is the result of an accurate architectural project. The importance of the structure is confirmed by the opulence of its decoration: the rooms and arcades were sumptuously covered by opus sectile and adorned by splendid architectural elements, made of various coloured marbles. The use of unique decorative schemes and the high quality execution represent a further evidence of the building relevance. The analysis of the architectural ornament points that this hadrianic building was inspired by stylistic prototypes of the early Empire. This classicistic tendency, called Augustan Revival, is specially appropriate for the Three Exedrae Building, a highly representative complex, probably used as a vestibule for the emperor’s palace.