Villa Wolkonsky

Villa Wolkonsky, located on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, is one of the city’s most fascinating historical residences, set in a garden of over five hectares, crossed by thirty-six arches of the ancient Neronian aqueduct dating back to the 1st century AD. The villa takes its name from the Russian princess Zinaida Wolkonsky, who purchased it in 1830 and transformed it into a cultural and social retreat frequented by distinguished artists and intellectuals of the time. Zinaida Alexandrovna Belosselsky-Belozersky, wife of an aide-de-camp to Tsar Alexander I, acquired the property with the intention of creating a place of peace and beauty where she could host her literary and artistic friends. Among the visitors to the villa were personalities such as the painter Karl Brullov, the writer Nikolai Gogol, who wrote part of his “Dead Souls” there, and the composer Gaetano Donizetti. The princess herself was a prominent figure in the European cultural scene, known for her literary salon that attracted figures like Stendhal and Sir Walter Scott. The villa was designed by the architect Giovanni Azzurri and initially included a small residence, which became the nucleus of a larger architectural complex. The villa’s gardens, enriched with rose gardens and statues, reflect the princess’s refined taste and include numerous archaeological finds recovered from the ground during construction work. The excavations unearthed Roman tombs, a columbarium, and numerous artifacts that Zinaida used to decorate the garden, creating an atmosphere that combined nature and archaeology. During the period of World War II, the villa underwent significant changes. After being seized by the Italian government in 1944, it was used by the Allies as a headquarters and later by the Italian Red Cross. In 1951, the villa was purchased by the British government and became the official residence of the British ambassador to Italy, a function it still maintains. The embassy offices returned to their original location at Porta Pia in 1971, leaving Villa Wolkonsky as a residence and venue for official events. The villa’s gardens are one of its strengths, hosting an extraordinary variety of plants and trees, with a recent census revealing around 200 different species. The remains of the Neronian aqueduct, which runs through the garden, add a unique historical element, creating a suggestive contrast with the lush vegetation. The villa is also known for its restored greenhouse, which houses a collection of over 350 Roman marbles recovered during restoration work sponsored by Shell Italia. These artifacts, although not accessible to the public for security reasons, are available for academic studies and special visits.