The largest villa in Rome is Villa Doria Pamphili, often called simply Villa Pamphili. It was named after the family that in 1630 bought its original nucleus. This noble family became owner of some vineyards on the slope of the Gianicolo Hill and entrusted Alessandro Algardi to restructure the area.
One of the most unique and interesting archaeological parks in Rome is Villa Gordiani. The Villa offers entertaining to people of all ages and it surrounds visitors in a very particular atmosphere. The many archaeological remains of Roman monuments take the visitor back in time, where nature and history find a balance that can rarely be seen in other environments.
The concept of “villa” started to spread for the first time in Ancient Rome, during the second half of the Republican Age (II and I century B.C.) and stands for a countryside house that has big plots of land addressed to farming. During the Renaissance the meaning of this word changed a little bit from its classical one and the villa became a place of pleasure where people lived an idle and luxurious life. Obviously it was characterized by great gardens in which it was possible to take long walks and pass the time peacefully.The most famous Villa of the Eternal City – but not the biggest – it’s certainly Villa Borghese.
One of the most suggestive and exciting views of the Eternal City is the one from the Orange Garden. This splendid green space is on the Aventine Hill and it overlooks the Tiber river, giving, through its belvedere, the most beautiful sight. The unique shapes of Castel Sant’Angelo and Saint Peter’s Basilica from here are breath-taking. The Orange Garden is nothing but Parco Savello, that takes its name from the Savelli family, that once had a small castle on this same spot. This family, one of the most powerful in the Middle Ages, believed to descend from the mythical king Aventine, grand-nephew of Aeneas and ancestor of Romulus and Remus.
