The Liceo Project was initiated in 2011 and aims to identify and document standing structures in the so-called Liceo area, immediately south of Hadrian’s Villa. It furthermore aims to create a digital map of the area and its structures with the aid of GIS.

Archaeological investigation at proprietà Lolli, Villa Adriana, began in 2004 with a limited excavation of a structure which was partly revealed. The structure, built on a slope on arched substructures had several rooms with black-and white mosaics and cocciopesto floors centered around a basin. The Liceo area was included by Piranesi in his map of Hadrian’s Villa, but the structure has never been recorded before.

At least four different phases of construction could be identified. The structure was identified as belonging to a villa with baths. It is situated on the southernmost slope of the tufa plateau on which Hadrian’s Villa is built, approximately 400 meters to the south of the so-called Odeum or Southern Theatre. Since there is only flat ground between the both sites and there is no natural border between them, it should not be ruled out that the villa in question was included in the emperor’s villa complex.

The Liceo project was initiated in 2011 and the structure was excavated further and the dating better established. The first phase can be dated to the mid- 1st century BC, the two following phases to the 1st century AD, and the final to the period around Hadrian (117-138 AD). It seems that the villa continued its existence at least throughout the 2nd century AD. The basin was later reused, probably as a lime-kiln, possibly in the Medieval period.

On the western side of the tufa plateau, a vault-shaped tunnel was identified, probably a cuniculum for the outflow of water. It is probable that a system of tunnels which extends further north, was connected with the villa. Surface survey showed that the size of the villa was probably relatively modest.