Just inside the front door is the atrium, a Roman house's main public room.
An opening in the ceiling admitted light and air, and rainwater was captured in
the center of the floor, where it flowed to an underground cistern.
Just to the right of the entrance, you'll find a small theater that screens a 10-minute film about the Villa, a good place to start your exploration.
On the opposite side of the entrance, just past the coat check room, you can rent an audio guide. You can see the museum without it, but for a very modest fee, you can take along your own gang of experts and curators to explain and enrich your experience.
Outfitted with your audio guide, explore Gods and Goddesses, Luxury vessels, the Basilica and don't miss the monsters on your way out to the Inner Peristyle.