Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

The Villa of Roman Emperor Nero

Anzio, Italy

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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An unusual aspect of Anzio, Italy is its connection to the ancient Roman empire.

The town of Anzio is built on the site of the ancient Roman port city of Antium which was a prominent city during the Roman Empire. It also happens to be the birthplace of the Roman emperors Nero and his maternal cousin, Caligula.

Antium became a favorite resort for wealthy Romans, including many emperors and aristocrats. It was renowned for its beautiful coastline, pleasant climate, and luxurious villas.

When we found out that Nero had a villa here, we certainly wanted to see it.

Statue of Roman Emperor Nero in a public park

Emperor Nero is Anzio's homeboy.

Falling out of favor with then Roman Emperor Caligula and accused of treason, Nero's famous politician father was murdered (or rather forced to commit suicide) by Caligula.

Roman Emperor Caligula was eventually assassinated and Claudius then ascended the throne.

Claudius marries Nero's mother and adopts Nero as his own son.

Legend has it that Claudius and Nero's ambitious mother had a falling out, and Claudius is mysteriously poisoned with mushrooms shortly afterward, making Nero the Next Emperor of Rome.

Nero was 16.

Kind of a warm, close family, don't you think?

Sketch of what Nero's palace looked like in his time

Credit to John Henderson Travel for this photo.

Nero's palace was MASSIVE. This is what it looked like then, photos of what is looks like now are below:

Statue of Roman Emperor Nero to the left, ruins of his villa below

Ascending the throne of The Roman Empire at age 16 couldn't have been easy, and with both his father and step father murdered, these events had to have affected him psychologically and emotionally.

Not that I'm making excuses, mind you.

But such intrigue, ambition, and paranoia of being murdered for power's sake was a heavy burden to carry at such a young age.

Nero is considered to be the most controversial emperor in Roman history.

Nero's caves or grottos

Nero’s villa stretched 800 meters along this beach and 300 meters inland.

That’s 2.6 million square feet, and three times the size of Buckingham Palace.

It had fountains, porticos, hallways, swimming areas and even a Coliseum!

It was Nero's party house.

These caves or grottos provided shade from the sun when swimming on the beach.

More of Emperor Nero's grottos on the beach

2,000 years ago, the sea came 25 meters farther inland and Nero's palace was built very close to the sea.

 The sea has receded since then and that's why Anzio’s beach is so wide today.

The Archaeological Park is situated in the heart of Anzio, encompassing the area where the ancient Roman city of Antium once stood. It covers approximately 40 hectares and contains a variety of ruins, structures, and artifacts dating back to different periods of Roman history, including more ruins of this villa.

A passageway through the ruins

This is the area that is accessible from the beach. There is another area through the Archaeological Park that is up at road level.

The day we were there, the park was closed for a special filming.

Akaisha in passageway

Here I am coming through one of the passageways.

Once can only imagine what life was like 2,000 years ago in this magnificent place.

More ruins of Nero's villa

This palace was full of gardens, statues, marble nymphs and a Coliseum with pillars covered in white marble.

Villa ruins above the beach

Even though the park was closed, we were able to see some of the ruins from the palace situated high on the hill.

The Tyrrhenian Sea shines below.

Stone carving of Roman Emperor Nero in Anzio, Italy

We walked along the harbor and found may stones carved with Roman visages and proverbs.

This stone lists Roman Emperor Nero's full name.

Keeping with family tradition, Nero killed his mother and 2 of his wives. Eventually, he was named enemy of the state and escaped Rome.

He then stabbed himself to death.

He was 30.

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Villa di Nerone

 Via della Fanciulla D’Anzio – Anzio

Tel. +39 0698499479

Entrance: Free.

Opening Hours: 15 September to 30 May from 10.30 to 12.30 and from 16.00 to 18.00

From 1 to 30 June from 17.30 to 19.30

From 1 July to 20 August from 18.00 to 20.00

From 21 August to 14 Septembe from 17.00 to 19.00

Closed on Monday

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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