VESTIBULE

The Vestibule served as the entrance to the villa for important visitors arriving by horse or wheeled conveyance. The structure consisted of a central staircase (1) bringing the visitor from the road below to an entry peristyle (6) culminating in an apse on the southern side (7). Off this is a small courtyard (10) with a temple (9) to the west; to the east is a great hall (11) on axis with the Canopus and Serapeum, beyond which is a curved peristyle (23) connecting the Vestibule to the Large and Small Baths. On the east side, the Vestibule has a lower level with subterranean service corridors providing access to the Cento Camerelle and the praefurnia (furnaces) of the Large and Small Baths.