Villa Sciarra

Villa Sciarra is a public park situated between the neighborhoods of Trastevere and Monteverde Vecchio, featuring ornate fountains decorated with cherubs and sphinxes along its pathways. The grounds include paved walkways, planted areas, and water features distributed throughout the property.

Cardinal Antonio Barberini acquired the land in 1653 within the Janiculum walls, establishing an estate that underwent significant changes over the centuries. In the early 20th century, George Washington Wurts redesigned the grounds, creating what visitors encounter as a public park today.

The gardens hold sculptures brought from an 18th-century Lombard estate, thoughtfully placed throughout the landscape by George Washington Wurts and Henrietta Tower. Visitors can see how these artworks shape the character and artistic identity of the space today.

The site has two entrances on Via Calandrelli, with one leading to Piazzale Wurts and another at Largo Mintilli. Wear comfortable shoes since the pathways are hilly and most areas are best explored on foot.

The park preserves a collection of topiaries shaped as animals, remnants from its past as a botanical garden and aviary complex. These living sculptures create surprising moments along the pathways and hint at the site's former role as a specialized natural space.