Cento Camerelle

The monument comprises a series of cisterns, comprising two distinct and independent sections that are oriented differently and date back to different periods. The cisterns were part of a villa complex, the ruins of which are partially excavated in the tuffaceous bank of the hill below. Additionally, fishponds are situated in front of the villa, partially submerged in the water.
One hypothesis posits that the villa originally belonged to Hortensius and subsequently passed to Antonia, wife of Drusus. From there, it was transferred to Nero, and finally to Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty.
The upper structure, situated at an elevation of 3.00 m above the current ground level, is a substantial reservoir constructed during the imperial era. It is divided into four sections and is covered by a barrel vault, supported by three rows of pillars. One of the extrados serves as a terrace, which is covered with a floor made of signinum. The hall is constructed into the tufa rock to a depth of 2.00 metres and lined with masonry comprising an opus reticulatum face and tufa cladding. The exterior is coated in a thick layer of cocciopesto. At the centre of each vault is a square inspection shaft; in the northern corner is a niche that bears traces of plaster cladding. On the lower level, situated 6.00 m below the previous one, is a network of water supply tunnels, which can be dated to the Republican period and only partially explored. The structures are oriented east-south-east/west-south-west and arranged in an orthogonal configuration, reaching a height of approximately 4.00 m. They are vaulted and connected by narrow, low communication passages, which are now covered by a pitched tile roof in some instances and a flat roof in others. The rooms are excavated in tuff and lined with opus coementicium, with the interior surfaces covered with earthenware. The presence of this type of hydraulic plaster and the kerb at the base of the walls indicate that these tunnels were also used as cisterns. The names of visitors from past centuries, inscribed in charcoal, have survived to the present day.