Villa Mondragone

Villa Mondragone is a 16th-century residence set on a hillside between Frascati and Monte Porzio Catone, surrounded by extensive parkland. The building commands views toward Rome and currently operates as a conference and event venue for the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

A cardinal commissioned a prominent architect in 1573 to build this villa on a site that had been inhabited since ancient times. The land was once part of a Roman estate and was transformed into a grand residence during the Renaissance.

The villa served as a backdrop to a pivotal moment in religious history when papal authorities announced a major calendar reform from within its walls. Visitors can experience this connection to global history simply by standing in the rooms where such consequential decisions were made.

The property sits on a hillside accessible by road and easy to reach by car. Visitors should check ahead about access, as the grounds regularly host events and conferences that may affect visiting hours.

The winged dragon symbol of the family that commissioned this villa appears throughout the site's artistic details and represents a heraldic connection to the pope of that era. This emblem links the family's patronage directly to the highest levels of the Church.

Location: Monte Porzio Catone

Architects: Martino Longhi the Elder

GPS coordinates: 41.80911,12.69689

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:44