Villa Sacchetti at Castelfusano, Fortified villa in Castelfusano, Italy

Villa Sacchetti at Castelfusano is a fortified country house on the southern edge of Rome, close to the Ostia coastline. The building has a compact, block-like form with three floors and small bastions at each corner that give it a defensive appearance.

The Sacchetti family had the building put up between 1624 and 1629, giving Pietro da Cortona his first architectural commission in the Roman area. The family had close ties to the papal court at the time, which gave them access to the leading artists of the day.

The frescoes on the top floor were painted by Pietro da Cortona and Andrea Sacchi, two of the most sought-after artists of their time. Walking through the upper rooms gives a direct sense of how a wealthy Roman family treated art as part of everyday domestic life.

The villa stands inside the Pineta di Castel Fusano urban park, reached by the Via del Mare towards the coast; the grounds are sandy pine forest, so walking shoes help. Ostia Antica lies several kilometres away and is not within walking distance, so plan a separate trip by car or local transport.

The corner bastions were not just decorative but were built to defend against pirate raids from the sea, which were a real threat along the Lazio coast in the 17th century. This means the shape of a private home was partly decided by the fear of attack from the water.