Rome's largest public landscaped park, the Villa Doria Pamphili, takes up an area of around 2 square kilometers. It was originally owned by the family that gave the park it's name, then bought by the City of Rome at the end of the twentieth century.
This amazing are is one of the best places in all of Rome for bird watching, and it's also a wonderful choice for a jog or a pleasant stroll.
This area has a long history, dating from before 1630, when it was referred to as the Villa Veccie. At this time, it was purchased by Panfilo Panfili, as well as the vineyards around it.
This act created a huge holding, standing on the high ground above Rome itself, and providing amazing views of the city. The owner and his family used the villa as their own private suburban resort.
Later in 1644, a new villa was begun on the site by the nephew of Giovanni Battista Pamphili, then the Pope. Work progressed until 1652, and the villa was designed to complement both contemporary and ancient sculpture and decor.
Most of these works of art today reside in the Capitoline Museum, though there are still some on site. Those who visit the villa will encounter a crowded Baroque style exterior, with alternating windows and statuary niches, as well as Mannerist bas relief panels.
Inside, you'll see frescoes depicting Roman history and even more Bas reliefs. Around the exterior there are gardens, first laid out around 1650 and creating a sequence of connected areas surrounding the villa and the lower levels. Statuary was once placed here, but much of this area is now grassed.
Other later features include fountains and gateways, giving the gardens a real complexity. You can still hear music from the 16th and 17th centuries at the Villa Doria Pamphili, in its Giardino del Teatro.
Most gardens around the villa are currently planted in a sixteenth century style, and have closely cut greenery and wide walks covered in gravel. Roman tombs were once found on this site, but through the centuries, all have been excavated.
You may be surprised to know that this lush and attractive park was once the site of violence. During the short lived Roman Republic in the middle of the ninteenth century, there was hand to hand fighting in the fortified villas on the outskirts of the city, and the Villa Doria Pamphili was closest to some of the worst combat. However, it survived intact while neighboring villas were destroyed almost completely.
The then-owner of the villa took advantage of his neighbors' misfortune, buying up neighboring lands and making the Villa Doria Pamphili's size even bigger. In these neighboring structures, art exhibitions are held. The villa itself remains open to the public housing antiquities and sculptures from its long history.
If you're taking a holiday to Rome, don't forget to include a trip to this incredible Roman park. Every tourist should see the Villa Doria Pamphili.
This amazing are is one of the best places in all of Rome for bird watching, and it's also a wonderful choice for a jog or a pleasant stroll.
This area has a long history, dating from before 1630, when it was referred to as the Villa Veccie. At this time, it was purchased by Panfilo Panfili, as well as the vineyards around it.
This act created a huge holding, standing on the high ground above Rome itself, and providing amazing views of the city. The owner and his family used the villa as their own private suburban resort.
Later in 1644, a new villa was begun on the site by the nephew of Giovanni Battista Pamphili, then the Pope. Work progressed until 1652, and the villa was designed to complement both contemporary and ancient sculpture and decor.
Most of these works of art today reside in the Capitoline Museum, though there are still some on site. Those who visit the villa will encounter a crowded Baroque style exterior, with alternating windows and statuary niches, as well as Mannerist bas relief panels.
Inside, you'll see frescoes depicting Roman history and even more Bas reliefs. Around the exterior there are gardens, first laid out around 1650 and creating a sequence of connected areas surrounding the villa and the lower levels. Statuary was once placed here, but much of this area is now grassed.
Other later features include fountains and gateways, giving the gardens a real complexity. You can still hear music from the 16th and 17th centuries at the Villa Doria Pamphili, in its Giardino del Teatro.
Most gardens around the villa are currently planted in a sixteenth century style, and have closely cut greenery and wide walks covered in gravel. Roman tombs were once found on this site, but through the centuries, all have been excavated.
You may be surprised to know that this lush and attractive park was once the site of violence. During the short lived Roman Republic in the middle of the ninteenth century, there was hand to hand fighting in the fortified villas on the outskirts of the city, and the Villa Doria Pamphili was closest to some of the worst combat. However, it survived intact while neighboring villas were destroyed almost completely.
The then-owner of the villa took advantage of his neighbors' misfortune, buying up neighboring lands and making the Villa Doria Pamphili's size even bigger. In these neighboring structures, art exhibitions are held. The villa itself remains open to the public housing antiquities and sculptures from its long history.
If you're taking a holiday to Rome, don't forget to include a trip to this incredible Roman park. Every tourist should see the Villa Doria Pamphili.
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