The description of the villas and the activities there done runs through the entire correspondence of Pliny the Younger: this theme allows us to sketch an interesting analysis of society and culture of the Trajan era. The possession of extra-urban manors constitutes a real status symbol: Pliny provides significant information on their structure. They are the privileged place for the exercise of otia, among which literary activity plays the main role. In general, Pliny proposes a model of life marked by the search for moderation, that allows to gain that peace disturbed by the frenetic activities typical of Rome.
