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The villa is located on the right-hand side of the Via Tuscolana, near the junction with Via delle Capannelle, from which the most impressive remains can be seen. It is one of the largest of the villas of the Roman suburbs. The name derives from the medieval name 'Sette Bassi', perhaps referring to Septimius Bassus, Prefect of Rome at the time of Septimius Severus (193-211 AD), owner of the villa. It is located on a plateau and consists of three contiguous bodies.
The first nucleus, built entirely of brick, was built at the beginning of the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD) and consists of a series of rooms that overlooked a vast peristyle garden, now completely disappeared. A large living room, a room with a rectangular niche and a room with a heating system are still preserved.
The second core of rooms, built in 140-150 AD, consists of reception rooms and luxurious bedrooms, as well as a balcony with windows and a semicircular belvedere with columns.
The third nucleus, built at the end of the reign of Antoninus Pius for representational purposes, includes vast multi-storey halls, a bathhouse and living rooms. The latter complex forms the back side of a large peristyle garden, 320 metres long and bounded by a long artificial terrace, on which is a cryptoporticus.
Following a canonical scheme for the villas of the suburbs of Rome, the rooms of the Villa di Sette Bassi are developed around a large hippodrome-garden: one can recognise the residential areas formerly decorated with polychrome marble and mosaics, the agricultural part, a small temple, an aqueduct and cisterns for supplying water to the residence.
Next to the villa, there were other buildings belonging to the rustic part of the complex, together with a small, well-preserved temple dating from the 2nd century AD.

Its imposing structures are also visible from the road and can be accessed by entering the long tree-lined avenue that reaches the heart of the residential complex. At the moment this has only been partially investigated, but from the remains brought to light during past excavations it is possible to guess at its architectural grandeur and decorative richness.
The complex is owned by the Appia Antica Archaeological Park, which has recently carried out a series of conservation and safety measures in the area.