Built in the 1st century AD on a hill 12 km from Tarraco, this is one of the country’s foremost examples of  Roman villas, by virtue of the scale of the archaeological remains and the sumptuousness of the decorative elements.

The agricultural part of the villa’s grounds lies on the north and west slopes of the hill, while on the other side, facing the sea, the big domus was built together with several gardens and baths.

In  the 2nd century AD, the period of maximum architectural splendour, it was the residence of Caius Valerius Avitus, one of the duumvirs of Tarraco - the highest post in the provincial administration - and his wife Faustina.

At the end of the 3rd century a great fire destroyed most of the villa, although it remained partially occupied until the 6th or 7th century.