Villa Blanc

Villa Blanc is a magnificent example of eclectic architecture located along Via Nomentana in Rome. The villa was built in 1896 according to the design of architect Giacomo Boni for Baron Alberto Blanc, an important diplomat and senator of the Kingdom of Italy. The residence, surrounded by a vast park of about 39,000 square meters, is characterized by a style that anticipates Art Nouveau, with a harmonious combination of classical elements and technical innovations. The villa is built on an area previously occupied by a vineyard and a “casino for delights” built by Marquis Lorenzo Lezzani in the 19th century. When Blanc purchased the property in 1893, he commissioned Boni to transform the existing building into a representative residence. Boni’s project, carried out together with engineer Francesco Mora, used materials such as iron, cast iron, wood, ceramics, marble, and granite to create a complex and fascinating structure, characterized by irregular volumes and decorative details of great value. Villa Blanc’s park is enriched by numerous plant species, many of which are exotic, contributing to creating a unique atmosphere. Among the structures in the park, the greenhouses and the caretaker’s house stand out, added between 1924 and 1928, which testify to the attention to detail and care of the landscape typical of luxury residences of the time. One of the most characteristic elements of the villa is the loggia with caryatids inspired by the Erechtheion of Athens, decorated with polychrome ceramic metopes depicting naturalistic motifs. This space, along with the ballroom with cast iron columns and stained glass windows, represents one of Boni’s creative masterpieces. The dining room, with a coffered ceiling and walls adorned with stuccoes, is enriched by a late 15th-century marble fireplace, an element of great elegance from the antique market. The winter garden, considered one of the largest in Europe, is another highlight of the villa. Decorated with metal vaults, it was set up with thousands of tulip bulbs from the Dutch city of Haarlem, as well as lilacs and rose-azaleas, creating an extraordinary floral environment. After Alberto Blanc’s death in 1904, the villa passed to his heirs, but throughout the 20th century it underwent various changes of ownership and use. In 1950, it was purchased by the Società Generale Immobiliare and subsequently, in the 1970s, it was the subject of a controversial sale to the embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, which never materialized due to urban planning constraints. In 1997, LUISS University acquired Villa Blanc in a public auction, with the intention of transforming it into a university campus. Between 2011 and 2017, the villa and the park underwent a significant restoration and redevelopment intervention, under the supervision of architect Massimo Picciotto. This project, worth 25 million euros, restored the villa to its original splendor, recovering the decorations and internal and external structures according to the prescriptions of the Superintendencies for archaeological, architectural, and cultural heritage. The restoration included the recovery of the staircase with caryatids and the balustrade with smooth and twisted columns, which had been stolen during the years of abandonment of the villa. The reopening of the park to the public in 2018 was an important moment for the community, returning to the city a green area of great historical and environmental value. Today, Villa Blanc is home to the LUISS Business School and hosts academic and cultural events, continuing to be a reference point for the city of Rome.