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12 – LOWER TERRACE OF THE LIBRARIES Description
The Lower Terrace of the Libraries is a vast esplanade, partly artificial, which was bordered on the north side by a curved retaining wall which passes behind the Cistern of the Libraries. An ancient staircase and an access ramp are still visible on the spot.
The southern side has a large rectilinear retaining wall supporting the Upper Terrace of the Libraries [n. 13]. It was a scenographic arrangement, decorated by alternating semicircular and rectangular niches, in which statues were placed.
Stairs going up to the Upper Terrace of the Libraries
In the centre of the wall, two stairs were built inside two of those niches; they reached the Upper Terrace of the Libraries.
They were a concealed access point, easily supervised, which went up to the private part of the Villa.
To the right (west) of this wall there is another retaining wall supporting the Terrace of the Maritime Theater [n. 26] which had a separate access with a stair of its own.
Function and meaning
In ancient times, the Lower Terrace must have been a garden, but it has never been excavated. Open to the public.
SEE: Marina De Franceschini, Villa Adriana. Mosaici, pavimenti, edifici, 1991, pp. 377-379.