The Latin term used by ancient writers to designate the buildings built outside of the city was Villa, a word that seems to identify a semantic rather wide: to the Romans, in fact, were villae both farms intended for agricultural production, they rusticae called, is the luxurious residences designed for rest and leisure, the so-called villas of otium.

Between these two extremes there were intermediate solutions: there is in fact productive villas also adequately equipped for the temporary stay is luxurious villas including the areas designed for crops sometimes highly specialized nature.

With the gradual spread among classes Italic-Roman leaders of refined habits of greek-oriental life is also developed, as early as the second century BC, the practice of building within the same city or in the immediate vicinity prestigious villas : the latter gave urbanae, they were mostly surrounded by large gardens and enjoyed a privileged panoramic position. The villas were realized mainly in the most fertile areas in the vicinity of the roads that led to cities and markets.

The fact of Rufione Villa was built along the Via Flaminia, very important route of communication and trade