Villa Doria Pamphili

Villa Doria Pamphili

Villa Doria Pamphili is a 17th-century villa in Rome, boasting the largest landscaped garden in the city today and functioning as a leisure destination for locals. Situated on the Janiculum Hill, right outside the Porta San Pancrazio of the ancient Aurelian Walls, it lies at the beginning of the ancient Via Aurelia.

Originally the villa of the Pamphili family, it came into the possession of Prince Doria Pamphili in 1763 after the family died out in 1760, when Pope Clement XIII granted the garden to him — hence its current name, Villa Doria Pamphili. The heart of the villa’s garden, the Villa Vecchia (Old Villa), had existed since before 1630. After marrying the heiress Olimpia Maidalchini, the Pamphili family acquired it as their suburban residence. Due to its elevated position, above Rome’s malaria-prone areas, and the breathtaking views it offers, the villa was often called “Bel Respiro” (Beautiful Breath). However, Pamphili himself preferred to call it “Villa dell’Allegrezze” (Villa of Joy), a term derived from Ecclesiastes 7:4 in the Bible — the same source of the title for Edith Wharton’s novel The House of Mirth.

Though no longer a noble estate, today’s Villa Doria Pamphili retains an air of nobility. Its elegant exterior and the beautifully arranged gardens surrounding it are a delight to the eye, making it a perfect place for picnics and leisure outings.

Villa Doria Pamphili

Must-visit reason: The largest landscaped garden in Rome

Continent: Europe

Country/Region: Italy

Province/State: Lazio Region

City: Rome