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Named after one of the main avenues that runs through it, this neighborhood in Rome is home to three important cultural hotspots: Via Savoia, Villa Albani and Coppede.
Lovely Via Savoia is situated between two gardens, Villa Borghese and Villa Ada, and is is home to the Goethe Institute, the Cervantes Institute, and Villa Albani. It is definitely a street of quiet elegance, as is common in the Parioli district. Nearby one finds the MACRO (Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Roma), and Villa Torlonia.
Villa Albani was commissioned in 1745 by Cardinal Alessandro Albani to house his ancient Roman sculpture collection. Unfortunately, it has been allowed to fall into ruins and most of the sarcophagi, columns and sculptures have been removed. Albani was nephew to Pope Clement XI Albani and became famous for his constantly growing collection of antiquities. These were catalogued by the Cardinal’s secretary, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, considered to be the first professional art historian.
Peeking through the fence off Viale Regina Margherita, or from Via Savoia, or looking in through the main gate off Via Salaria, one can imagine the Villa and its garden in its former glory.
Part II coming soon…
- Contributed by Gretchen Bloom, ItalianNotebook.com reader and Central Italy expert. Also a recent Senior Advisor at the UN’s World Food Program as well as head of WFP’s Programme Unit in Kabul, Afghanistan, for 15 month. Expert in gender issues and community health. Many thanks!
Lovely note. I imagine part 2 is going to be on Quartiere Coppede. Rome is a never-ending well of beauty and fascination. Can’t wait to read it!
Fascinating. italiannotebook.com proves once again that Rome is filled with more treasures than one could visit in a lifetime! Grazie!
I pass that way almost every day and often wonder what is behind the gates. I could never find a sign. Thanks.