Villa, this everyday Latin word

While the market value of a villa often increases, the connotation of the word has lost.

Indeed, what a difference between the "

", a modest pavilion, and the Roman villa!

Villa is indeed a Latin word which designated a land domain comprising farm and residential buildings.

Read alsoTen adjectives to resuscitate at all costs

Three adjectives distinguished the different villae in ancient Rome and Roman Gaul: The villa rustica: farm with a courtyard, agricultural buildings.

Its organization is totally centered on agricultural production.

The villa urbana: suburban secondary residence, luxuriously furnished.

Contrary to what the term urbana might suggest, it is not located in the city.

The villa maritima: villa whose activities are both agricultural and linked to marine exploitation, such as the production of garum, juice made from leftover fish and brine, dried in the sun, a cousin of nuoc-mam.

With garden

Over the years, the word still makes people dream.

In 1743, he designated a “

”.

– British Library.

We then think of the Villa d'Este in Tivoli, the Villa Borghese and of course the Villa Medici in Rome.

In the 20th century, the word acquired the meaning we know today and that of a road or dead end originally bordered by individual dwellings.

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