Through their historic and typological features Roman villas have without doubts represented the maybe liveliest expression of society development. They are the most direct demonstrations of the passage from Feudalism to patronage, but more than anything expression of the policy of the Church and of the Popes who represent it.
Having their routes in the old Roman villas, generally built fuori porta (without the walls), more modern villas have lost completely their fashion during the Medieval period. In fact they were no more than a real little fort, surrounded by garden of green area. It is only during the XIV century that extra urban villas timidly reappeared and partly spread in the surrounding of Florence, in the South of Italy and in Naples and surrounding.
Today in Rome there are astonishing examples of villas, once property of noble families, today galleries, museums and public parks.
Villa Ada Savoia is presently one of the largest parks in Rome as an arrangement of the XVIII century. The villa, as well as the surrounding land was used as a leisure and official guest place. The Pallavicinis had bought the largest part and had built there the first core of the villa, which had around a casino, landscape gardens, an artificial lake and other similar elements. The villa was later sold to the Potenzianis and then was bought by Victor Emmanuel II in 1871. He added several surrounded areas and ordered the German gardener Richter and the architect Pretagna to embellish the villa, transforming the place into a Royal Villa.
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| Villa Savoia |
When Victor Emmanuel II died in 1878 part of the house was sold, until when was purchased by Victor Emmanuel III and declared 1919 official residence of the royal family. After the proclamation of the Repubblic in 1946, the villa became derelict and only after a long dispute it was divided between the State property and the Savoia heirs.
Recently the villa has been restored and it has passed under the Municipality of Rome. Considered one of the fundamental lungs of the eternal city, this place is a place of rest and trips, especially for the children who can run easily around.
The entrances to the park are on Via Salaria, Via del Ponte Salario, Via di Monte Antenne and Via Panama.
Next time you are on holiday and you have children, or you want to do something different, explore this immense park!
A presto!
