The text offers a representative framework of Roman villas in northern Italy, on the basis of accidental findings. Once the objective features of the sites were analyzed and identified by their forms and models, it was proceeded into a critical analysis of their functional role, which helped to identify six functional Types. In some cases, it was possible to recognize the adoption of external cultural models, in particular those derived from central Italy. The territory must have been occupied by a widespread hierarchical system of isolated complexes, generally developed since the Augustan age and characterized by a long continuity of frequentation.