As you leave the bright sunshine of the courtyard and step into the cool darkness of the portico, you think with a shiver of anticipation that today may be the day you meet that special someone. You smile as you remember the words of the poet Ovid, who advised both men and women desiring to meet potential lovers to frequent the porticoes, including this one:
nec tibi vitetur quae priscis sparsa tabellis porticus auctoris Livia nomen habet.
And do not avoid the portico filled with ancient art works,
which bears the name of its founder Livia. (Ars Amatoria 1.71-72)
At one end of the colonnade you see an exhibition of some of those ancient art works mentioned by Ovid. Click on the sign below to visit an exhibit of precious Roman statuettes depicting gods and goddesses.
NB: The portico you see here is a modern reproduction but gives some idea of the appearance of ancient Roman colonnades.
Exhibition of Roman Deities
Portico of Livia