Description

The Mausoleum is located outside the visitable area and has never been open to the public.

Known from antiquarian maps, it is depicted by Penna in one of his 19th century engravings.

It has always been covered by vegetation until the excavations of Patrizio Pensabene, which started in 2004.  They found columns, architectural marbles and opus sectile floors.

Function and meaning

Salza Prina Ricotti was convinced that it was a funerary Mausoleum because it is located in a peripheral area of ​​the Villa.

Pinto and MacDonald hypothesized that it served instead as a Neviera, i.e. a snow storage, given its closed and partially underground shape.

The excavations of Pensabene and Ottati have disproved both hypotheses: it was a small Doric temple, similar to others in the Villa. There is no evidence to understand if it was dedicated to any particular deity.