From the guidebook:
A Roman household would have used the courtyard for exercise and conversation. Flowers and culinary herbs may have been grown there. The surrounding portico provided shelter from the weather, both for the family and also for servants and slaves, who could have used it as covered workspace.
Minimalism!
The garden is rather sparse!!
The portico reminds me a lot of the veranda, on the summer cottage of my youth. We had chairs, a table, hammock. We played, ate, sometimes slept in that area. We put nets to keep flies at bay.
That place of your youth, sounds a wonderful place to be. I am just imagining it my mind
I haven’t been there in years…it seems like they have been busy!
The Town House is certainly worth a look. It was very busy when I went around.