Villino Maraini, Historic villa in Rione Ludovisi, Rome, Italy
Villino Maraini is a villa in Rome built in the early 1900s with neo-baroque architectural details and traditional Roman design. A 26-meter observation tower rises from the building and provides views across the city, while gardens with a grotto nymphaeum surround the property.
The villa was designed and built between 1903 and 1905 by Swiss architect Otto Maraini for his brother Emilio, a successful businessman from Lugano. The property became an important center for Swiss cultural and intellectual activities in Rome during the early 20th century.
The building now houses the Swiss Institute of Rome, which organizes art exhibitions and cultural programs that bring together artists and thinkers from both Switzerland and Italy. Visitors can walk through the rooms and experience the changing exhibitions that fill the spaces throughout the year.
The building welcomes visitors through scheduled guided tours, which can be arranged by contacting the institute in advance. It is best to check availability beforehand since visits are organized on specific dates and group sizes may be limited.
The villa sits on an artificial hill built from excavation materials dug during the property's development. This clever engineering choice allowed the tower to stand higher and offer better views across Rome than would have been possible on the original ground level.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
