Museums of Villa Torlonia consist of three buildings that you can visit. Museums are located in a beautiful park which is close to the city center. In the middle of the park there is a so-called main villa that will leave most of the tourists speechless. The beauty of the villa did not even escape the eye of Benito Mussolini who made it his residence during The Second World War.
The museums of villa Torlonia are situated in a beautiful park and even though this park is located close to the city center, it seems isolated from the typical commotion of Rome. There are three different structures that you can visit: Casina Nobile (the main villa), Casina delle Civette (the house of owls) i Casino dei Principi (the house of princes).
Casina Nobile was constructed in the neo-classical style with high marble pillars at the entrance. The building is a separate museum where art pieces are displayed in beautifully painted rooms. Each room is painted with different motifs that represent different historical periods. The most important art pieces in the villa are: three plaster reliefs of Antonio Canova, a female head signed by Michelangelo’s school and the furniture from the demolished chapel Cappella della Villa.
The important sections in the villa are:
Egyptian section
The room is dominated by three wall panels of Luigi Fioroni (1795-1864): Encounter of Antony and Cleopatra, Coronation of Antony and Cleopatra, Cleopatra kneeling in front of Antony. On the forth wall of the room the artist painted the river Nile with pyramids in the background. The floor of the room is decorated with yellow Egyptian marble, which completes the whole design of the room.
Alexander’s room
This is one of the most interesting rooms. It served as the dining room and is lavishly decorated with frescoes of Francesco Coghetti (1801-1864) that depict events from the life of this unequalled ruler (Alexander the Great of Macedonia): triumphant entrance to Babylon, Isso battle, Grancius battle, Alexander and the Darius family and many others.
During the Fascist regime, villa Torlonia became the residence of Benito Mussolini. At the outbreak of the Second World War, due to the threat of bombing, a shelter was built in the basement of the villa. This bomb shelter had several rooms and two exits that led away from the building. Nevertheless, this bomb shelter was never finished since in 1943 Benito was overthrown and had to leave the building. During the severe bombing under the German occupation this shelter was used by the residents of the villa as well as by the residence of the neighboring district. In the later reconstruction of the bunker, a grave was found that dates back to the first century AD. The visit to the bunker is possible only if previous reservation is made.
Casina delle Civette was a shelter from the reality of the main villa. Today, this building consists of two constructions connected with an underground passage. From 1916 onwards, the building became known as the building of owls, because the motifs of owls were used abundantly in the decoration and furniture. Casina delle Civette can be visited as part of the Villa Torlonia museums. The exhibition consists of 54 painted glasses in their original position, 18 purchased painted glasses and 105 drawings and sketches. Even temporary exhibitions are organized here.
Casino dei Principi is connected to the main villa with an underground passage and was designed as a hall for formal receptions. Its beautiful balcony was used as a perfect place for enjoying the view to the park and different spectacles organized in the amphitheatre directly under the balcony (this amphitheatre was destroyed in 1907 when a nearby street Nomentana was expanded). The most important work of art that has survived is the fresco Triumph of Alexander the Great in Babylon. In this building all three rooms on the second floor were decorated with frescoes as well with the motifs from ancient Greece, Rome and the bay of Napoli. Only the wall with the view to the Bay of Napoli survived until today, while original decorations of the ceiling do not exist anymore. Nowadays, the ceiling is painted with the motif of blue sky, which is so realistic that they almost give the impression of watching the real sky through the ceiling made of glass. Casino dei Principi is used for temporary exhibitions.
Ticket prices for Museums of Villa Torlonia in Rome
Villa Torlonia museums (Casina Nobile + Casina delle Civette + Casino dei Principi)
Regular ticket price is: 9.50 Euros (€).
Reduced ticket price is: 7.50 Euros (€), (individuals from 6 to 25 years old, older than 65).
Only Casina Nobile
Regular ticket price is: 7.50 Euros (€).
Reduced ticket price is: 6.50 Euros (€), (individuals from 6 to 25 years old, older than 65).
Only Casina delle Civette
Regular ticket price is: 6 Euros (€).
Reduced ticket price is: 5 Euros (€), (individuals from 6 to 25 years old, older than 65).
We advise you to check ticket prices before visiting on the official website of the Museums of Villa Torlonia in Rome.
Working hours of Museums of Villa Torlonia in Rome
From Tuesday to Sunday working hours are: 09:00 – 19:00h.
24, 31 December – 09:00 – 14:00h.
Closed: All Mondays, 1 January, 1 May, 25 December.
We advise you to check the working hours before visiting on the official website of the Museums of Villa Torlonia in Rome.
