Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome

Gianicolo is the second highest hill in Rome, though it is not one of the famed Seven Hills. Still, the view from the top is quite spectacular. From here, you get a commanding panorama of the historic Roman skyline. It is from this vantage point that you will find the Villa Doria Pamphili.

Villa Doria Pamphili was originally the palazzo, or palace, of Panfilo Panfili who, in the 17th century bought a small villa on the hill and began acquiring numerous vineyards in the surrounding area. Today, this same property is Rome’s largest landscaped public park.

In 1644, Camillo Cardinal Pamphili, nephew of Pope Innocent X, built a new, more expansive villa on the site. Villa Doria Pamphili was designed to house the cardinal’s extensive collection of art and antiquities. Among these pieces were several recovered from ancient burial tombs on the site itself. The cardinal also designed the vast gardens that were the precursor of today’s modern park.

In the 18th and 19th century, the gardens of Villa Doria Pamphili underwent further changes, taking on, in certain areas, more of the feel of an English country garden. In the mid-nineteenth century, after French troops destroyed the neighboring Villa Corsini, prince Doria-Pamphili bought the property, thus doubling the size of Villa Doria Pamphili.

Today, Villa Doria Pamphili’s gardens are a popular park for jogging, strolling and dog walking. The villa itself houses an official Italian ministry and also serves as a museum.