The Capitolino, a citadel hill heavily connected to the myths that populate the origins of Rome, was the building ground to several temples, including a major temple to Jupiter. Nowadays, the post-medieval palazzi dominate the hill, with the overwhelming Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio in center stage.

The plan of the villa evolved as did Hadrian himself. Many of the places were named and built after Greek and Egyptian deities and influences Hadrian interested himself with, and the several additions to the villa reflected the eclectic life, love and travels of the emperor.

A teacher once told me there are two cities in the world that an architect needs to visit in his lifetime: New York and Rome. I had visited neither by the time I became an architect. Only when I wasn’t an architect anymore, did I get the chance to visit both.

All amenities aside, what won us over was the splendid book and magazine collection the apartment featured. All ranging from books on Russian orthodox art, to photojournalism magazines. There was something there for each of us. What captured my eye was a collection of erotic and psychedelic Italian comic books from the 70’s, and especially the character Valentina, penned by Guido Crepax