Villa Torlonia, a luxurious 19th century villa in Rome that was the residence of former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from 1925 to 1943, is open to the public as is the grounds surrounding the villa and some of the other buildings. The park originally belonged to the Pamphilj family and was part of their farm in the 17th and early 18th centuries.
What you will find in Villa Torlonia
Villa Torlonia was originally designed by Valadier in the early 19th century for Alessandro Torlonia, who bought the property and wanted to convert the house, Casino Nobile , into a larger, grand villa. The interior of the villa is decorated with beautiful frescoes, stucco, chandeliers and marbles. The Torlonia family were one of the leading art collectors during the 19th century and the museum within the villa includes some of the works of art purchased by the family. Also inside there is some furniture used by Mussolini.
Below the villa, Mussolini had two underground structures built to protect himself and his family during air and gas attacks. They can be visited by reservation only and are not included in the ticket to the villa.
Villa Torlonia is part of a large complex that includes a reproduction of an Etruscan fresco painted tomb, a theater, extensive gardens notable for the English-style garden, and the whimsical Casina delle Civette , the owls’ bungalow that was the Prince’s residence. Giovanni Torlania. younger, resembling a Swiss chalet. La Casina delle Civette is also a museum with 20 rooms open to the public. Inside there are mosaics, marble sculptures and other decorations, but its most notable feature is its stained glass windows from the early 20th century.
A large collection of stained glass is on display in the museum, as well as preparatory sketches for the stained glass windows.
Visiting the gardens and museums of Villa Torlonia
Villa Torlonia’s park and gardens are free to the public and concerts are often held there during the summer. Ancient Jewish catacombs have also been found under part of the park.
You can reach Villa Torlonia on the bus 90 from the main railway station of Rome Termini Station.
The 2 museums of Villa Torlonia (Casino Nobile and Casina delle Civette ) and their exhibits open from 9:00 am from Tuesday to Sunday and generally close at 7:00 pm, but the closing time may vary depending on the season or date. The museums are closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Tickets for the museum can be purchased at the entrance, via Nomentana, 70 . A cumulative ticket for both museums plus exhibitions is available or you can buy a separate ticket for the museum and audio guides in English, Italian or French can be rented at the box office. Entrance to the museums is included with the Roma Pass.
Visit the Villa Torlonia website for exact hours and more information for visitors.
For more on the architect, visit Casina Valadier in the Borghese Gardens, now a restaurant with fantastic views of Rome.
