18 DECEMBER 2004, Page 38

Glory of Livia’s garden

From John Fort

Sir: It would be a pity if Mary Keen’s review of the book Gardens of the Roman World (Books, 4 December) were to put readers off going to see one of the most enchanting and well-preserved survivals from classical times, the frescoed garden chamber from the Empress Livia’s villa, on the grounds of its being inaccessible. Since the reordering of the main classical antiquities in Rome into various museums during the late Nineties, there has been absolutely no problem in viewing it. It is to be found on the top floor of the superb Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo, along with other exquisitely frescoed rooms, splendid mosaics and many of the finest extant examples of ancient sculpture.

John Fort Rome, Italy