Museums of Villa Torlonia — Casino Nobile and Casina of the Owls
Villa Torlonia is a villa with surrounding gardens in Rome, Italy, formerly belonging to the Torlonia family. It is entered from the Via Nomentana, on the eastern side of the historic city. Today its buildings, including the Casino Nobile and the Casina delle Civette (Casina of the Owls), house a complex of civic museums set within a public park.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic villa, gardens and museum complex
- Period
- Former Torlonia family estate
- Style
- Neoclassical villa with eclectic pavilions
- Location
- Via Nomentana, Rome, Italy
Overview
Villa Torlonia is a villa and garden complex in Rome that formerly belonged to the Torlonia family. It is entered from the Via Nomentana. Its principal buildings, the Casino Nobile and the Casina delle Civette, now form part of a system of civic museums open to the public.
History
The estate was developed as the suburban residence of the Torlonia, one of Rome's prominent noble families. Over time the grounds were laid out as a landscaped park dotted with pavilions and outbuildings. After passing into public ownership, the villa and its buildings were restored and converted into museums.
What you see
The Casino Nobile is the main residential building of the estate, while the Casina delle Civette is a smaller, picturesque pavilion famed for its decorative detail. Both stand within the gardens that open from the Via Nomentana. The park combines tree-lined avenues with the architectural set pieces of the former estate.
Cultural significance
As a former Torlonia residence turned public museum complex, Villa Torlonia preserves an important chapter of Rome's aristocratic and civic history. Its buildings and gardens are among the cultural sites managed within the city's network of museums.
Practical information
Address: Via Nomentana, Rome, Italy. The museums of Villa Torlonia are part of Rome's civic museum system. Check the official website for opening hours, ticketing and access to the individual buildings.
Getting there
Villa Torlonia lies along the Via Nomentana, north-east of central Rome, served by city buses. The Policlinico and Bologna metro stations are within reach, and the gardens are open as a public park.