Luogo - Archaeological Area
Villa romana di Russi
Where
Via Fiumazzo, Russi (Ravenna)
The Rustic Villa of Russi
was at its most magnificent in every aspect between the first and second
century. A.D. when the complex was completely renovated, by an owner
who probably became rich by selling agricultural surpluses to the Roman
military fleet, who at the time of Augustus, was based in Ravenna. The
villa was managed by a freedman who had the task of procurator, and who
commanded the large number of slaves needed for plowing, sowing and
reaping the grain, the pruning of the vines and harvesting and crushing
grapes. The dominus lived in the house occasionally, but his
accommodation was nevertheless luxurious with a dining room
(triclinium), a receiving room (tablinum), thermal baths and mosaic
floors. The complex has two warehouses, one connected to the section
where wine was made and the other where grain was stored. After a period
of decline which coincided with the time of the departure of the
military fleet, the villa was partially reoccupied by the imperial court
when they transferred to Ravenna, which became the capital in 401 AD.
The villa was then definitively abandoned in the early Middle Ages and
already at the end seventh century, the area resembled a wasteland.