Casino dei principi, Historical palazzo in Villa Torlonia, Rome, Italy
Casino dei Principi is a neo-16th-century palazzo located within Villa Torlonia, featuring marble doorways, ancient columns, and ornate decorative elements throughout its facade. The building displays cast iron planters and carved friezes showing scenes of historical significance along its exterior.
The original modest structure was comprehensively redesigned between 1835 and 1840 by architect Giovanni Battista Caretti under commission from Alessandro Torlonia. This transformation created the impressive palazzo that stands today as part of the broader development of Villa Torlonia.
The building houses collections related to the Roman School movement, documenting artistic work from the interwar decades. Visitors can see how artists of that era used the space to gather and share their ideas.
The palazzo opens only during special exhibition periods and requires advance booking through the Villa Torlonia museum website. Plan your visit ahead since regular access is not available throughout the year.
Four winged sphinxes carved by sculptors Clemente Massimi and Girolamo Sartorio stand at the entrance and were relocated from elsewhere on the villa grounds. These mysterious guardians greet visitors with their enigmatic gaze as they approach the palazzo.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
