Vitruvius books in order
Roman architect and engineer
- Lived
- 79 BC–14 BC
- Country
- Ancient Rome
- Books
- 1
Vitruvius published 1 book. The best-known is De Architectura.
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Vitruvius
Start here
De Architectura
Vitruvius's most-read book.
Other books in order
De Architectura (1486)
Free to read
All free classics
About Vitruvius
Vitruvius was a Roman architect and engineer during the 1st century BC, known for his multi-volume work titled De architectura. As the only treatise on architecture to survive from antiquity, it has been regarded since the Renaissance as the first book on architectural theory, as well as a major source on the canon of classical architecture. It is not clear to what extent his contemporaries regarded his book as original or important.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Vitruvius FAQ
- How many books has Vitruvius written?
- Vitruvius published 1 book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Vitruvius's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with De Architectura.
- What is Vitruvius's most famous book?
- De Architectura is Vitruvius's most widely read book.
- Can I read Vitruvius's books for free?
- Yes. 2 books by Vitruvius are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.