Amongst the many beautiful estates built for the Roman nobility, Villa Torlonia is the most recent one and one of the most memorable. In its layout we can find a rich variety of buildings, each and everyone with their own character, crowned by the originality of its English styled gardens very rarely seen in Rome. As Giovanni Torlonia obtained his Marquis title in 1797, he started developing the estate with the intent of matching the mansions of the Roman Princes and royals in beauty and magnificence, beginning a process that will last for many generations after his own. One by one the buildings were enriched and restyled, the park furnished with priceless pieces of classical art until the developing stopped with the fall of the Fascism in Italy. The last inhabitant of the Villa, was in fact, Mussolini himself, who was allowed to live there between 1925 and 1943 until the English and American troops occupied it until 1947. It finally got back into Italian hands in 1977 and opened to the public soon after and, after changing owners for so many years, in the 90's it was restored to its original beauty. Within the walls of Villa Torlonia you can visit the Park and its main buildings: Casina delle Civette, also known as “Swiss Cabin” it underwent many changes and transformations and it was the very home of Giovanni Torlonia until his death. It is positioned out of the plain sight as to grant some privacy to the occupiers. Its style resembles the northern wooden mansions, giving it a rustic feel; Casino Nobile is the most imposing of the buildings decorated with Doric columns giving it a classical feel, it was styled to impress with vast terraces,a ballroom illuminated by a single huge window and a complex game
Amongst the many beautiful estates built for the Roman nobility, Villa Torlonia is the most recent one and one of the most memorable. In its layout we can find a rich variety of buildings, each and everyone with their own character, crowned by the originality of its English styled gardens very rarely seen in Rome.
The best preserved castle in Rome From its first construction (in 139 A.D) to today, Castel Sant’Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel) has been a fortress and a prison, a place of miraculous appearances but also the papal residence and the headquarters of very important departments (such as the Secret Archive, which was miraculously saved from attacks and sieges), during the centuries where the Church exercised its spiritual and temporal power. But for those who love the opera, it is also the place of Tosca’s tragic ending; she seeks death throwing herself from the walkway because she cannot survive the love of her life. Today, Castel Sant’Angelo is one of the most visited monuments in Rome, and it owes its charm, as well to the place where it stands, to the magic aura that seems to come out of its stones, carved centuries ago by the artisans for whom Rome was well known outside the Vatican’s and Italy’s borders. One of the aspects attracting thousands of tourists and students every day is the “Passetto” (“Passage”) that connects the site to the Vatican Palaces; over the centuries, lots of legends were born around it, such as the ones about Pope Alexander VI (Pope Borgia or Borja, according to the original Spanish writing) who used it when he wanted to leave, for a few hours, the sacredness of Saint Peter’s holy rooms. In fact many Popes, throughout ages used this castle as their hiding place, a fortress or summer residence. The castle is like a huge layer cake or a slice of archaeological lasagna if you will, the lower half was built in the second century AD by the emperor Hadrian to be his family tomb, and the upper half was added by different Popes at different times. Castel Sant'Angelo or the
The best preserved castle in Rome From its first construction (in 139 A.D) to today, Castel Sant’Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel) has been a fortress and a prison, a place of miraculous appearances but also the papal residence and the headquarters of very important departments (such as the Secret Archive, which was miraculously saved
A labyrinth of narrow streets, paved with “sampietrini” (cobblestones made of flint stone and carved with an ancient technique, typical of Rome), overlooked by lots of restaurants and bars, open day and night: welcome to Trastevere, one of the most charming among Rome’s neighborhoods. It’s an ancient neighborhood, lying on an inhabited area that dates back to the republican period and that the Romans conquered fighting with the proud Etruscan people. Trastevere comes from Latin “Trans Tiberim”, that is, “across the Tiber”; its symbol is still a lion head on a red background, reminding of the one exposed at its entrance up to 1400. It represented the fierceness of its inhabitants, heirs of the fishermen and sailors who had lived there when Rome wasn’t a republic yet, but was taking its first steps towards the conquest of the world as they knew it. Trastevere is not only a place to enjoy good food and have fun, but also an example of historical-architectural preservation (as shown by its churches and gates), because it has almost never changed over the centuries, maintaining the charm of its streets and alleys, where everybody knows one another and you can find smiles and hospitality.
A labyrinth of narrow streets, paved with “sampietrini” (cobblestones made of flint stone and carved with an ancient technique, typical of Rome), overlooked by lots of restaurants and bars, open day and night: welcome to Trastevere, one of the most charming among Rome’s neighborhoods. It’s an ancient neighborhood, lying on an inhabited area that dates
