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The article looks at the evolution of the concept of the villa of Roman aristocrats using a historiographical and historical approach. The first mention of the concept of villa in the first chapter of volume III of the book "Économie rurale (Res Rusticae)" by ancient Roman scholar and writer Varron is discussed. Further topics include villas as places to work (villae rusticae) and places to live (villae urbanae), a villa as a place to escape urban life and reconnect with nature, and the contradiction concerning the notion of a villa as a place to retreat (secessus). The notion of a villa among ancient Roman poets such as Horace and Virgile is also talked about.