Rome, Rome
Villa Aurelia
A 17th-century Baroque villa crowning Janiculum Hill—where St. Peter's dome rises at eye level, three terraced gardens cascade down the hillside, frescoed salons open onto panoramic terraces, and that particular combination of authentic cardinal's residence and commanding Rome views creates the city's most romantic celebration setting.
Enquire NowAbout Villa Aurelia
Climb Janiculum Hill—one of Rome's famous seven—until the city spreads below and you discover Villa Aurelia perched at the summit like a Baroque jewel someone placed precisely where views reach perfection. Commissioned in 1650 by Cardinal Girolamo Farnese, this palazzo captures everything a prince of the church could want: elevation above summer heat, gardens for contemplation, salons for entertaining, and those views—St. Peter's dome so close you understand the cardinal's power, all of Rome beyond confirming it. Today, Villa Aurelia operates under the stewardship of the American Academy in Rome, hosting cultural events and celebrations that honor the villa's heritage while opening it to those whose important moments deserve genuine Baroque grandeur. The architecture tells the cardinal's story: the Piano Nobile with its interconnected salons (Music Room, Gallery, Dining Room) flowing naturally for entertaining, the Grand Hall where 200 guests dine beneath frescoed ceilings, terraces positioned to frame different Roman perspectives, and those three gardens—the formal Italian Garden with geometric precision, the Lemon Garden fragrant with citrus, the Secret Garden hidden behind walls for intimate ceremonies. With capacity ranging from sixty to 230 depending on configuration, no overnight accommodations (this is a residence and cultural institution, not hotel), and exclusive use ensuring privacy, Villa Aurelia delivers the Roman cardinal's villa experience at its most authentic. The position on Janiculum means you're technically in Trastevere—ten minutes from the Vatican, fifteen from Piazza Navona—yet elevated enough that Rome feels displayed specifically for your celebration rather than simply surrounding it.
Max Guests
230
Exclusive Use
Yes
Key Features
| 17th-Century Baroque Villa (Built 1650) |
| Commissioned by Cardinal Girolamo Farnese |
| Atop Janiculum Hill |
| Panoramic Views Across Rome |
| St. Peter's Dome at Eye Level |
| Managed by American Academy in Rome |
| Three Distinct Gardens |
| Grand Hall & Piano Nobile Salons |
| Accommodates Up to 230 Guests |
| 10-15 Minutes from Vatican |
| Exclusive Use Required |
| Indoor Music Until 2am |
| Outdoor Music Until 11:30pm |
| Baroque Frescoed Interiors |
| Historic Cultural Institution |
| Trastevere Location |
| Complete Privacy & Seclusion |
A Living Monument to Italian History
In 1650, Cardinal Girolamo Farnese—member of one of Rome's most powerful families—commissioned a summer villa on Janiculum Hill. The Farnese understood power's visual language: height communicated authority, gardens demonstrated culture, proximity to St. Peter's signaled church connection, views over Rome itself became daily reminder of influence. The cardinal wanted all of this in architectural form.
Gallery
Experience the grandeur of Villa Aurelia through our photographic journey
Exclusive Use Experience
Exclusive use of Villa Aurelia means this entire 17th-century cardinal's residence atop Janiculum Hill becomes yours—from the Grand Hall seating 200 beneath Baroque frescoes to the Piano Nobile's interconnected salons to the panoramic terrace where St. Peter's dome rises at eye level to those three distinct gardens each offering different ceremony atmospheres. Your celebration flows between spaces Cardinal Farnese designed precisely for gathering: ceremonies in the Italian Garden with geometric Baroque precision, cocktails in the Lemon Garden where citrus perfumes the air, reception in the Grand Hall where centuries of Roman celebrations have unfolded, late-night dancing as views across the Eternal City transition from sunset gold to twinkling nighttime magic. The American Academy's stewardship ensures everything honors the villa's cultural significance while the experienced events team delivers contemporary luxury. With capacity ranging from intimate gatherings of sixty in the Secret Garden to substantial celebrations of 230 in the Grand Hall, Villa Aurelia scales beautifully while maintaining that sense of being guest in a genuine noble residence rather than visitor to a commercial venue. The Janiculum position creates the perfect Roman contradiction: elevated above the city ensuring views and seclusion, yet just ten minutes from the Vatican and fifteen from Piazza Navona. Your celebration happens at Rome's most commanding vantage point, in spaces designed by a prince of the church who understood that great gatherings require beauty, proportion, and views that remind guests they're somewhere extraordinary.
Event Spaces & Capacities
Distinct spaces, each offering unique ambiance for your celebration
| Event Space | Cocktail | Seated Dinner | Buffet | Ceremony |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Hall (Salone delle Feste) The villa's principal reception space—where Baroque proportions create natural drama, frescoed ceilings soar overhead, and tall windows frame Rome views that remind you why the cardinal chose this exact elevation. Accommodates 200 for seated dinners with dancing, maintaining that balance between grandeur and intimacy that proper ballrooms achieve. Your reception unfolds exactly where Cardinal Farnese once entertained Rome's elite, beneath the same vaults and surrounded by the same views. | 250 | 200 | 200 | 150 |
| Piano Nobile Salons The villa's main floor comprises three interconnected salons—Music Room, Gallery, and Dining Room—that flow naturally for entertaining. Together they accommodate 180 for seated events, creating flexibility in table arrangements and natural progression between spaces. Frescoes, period furniture, and architectural details in each room tell different stories while maintaining cohesive Baroque elegance. Perfect when your celebration benefits from movement and discovery rather than remaining in one large hall. | 220 | 180 | 180 | 120 |
| Panoramic Terrace Connected to the Grand Hall, this terrace positions you at Janiculum's summit with all of Rome spread before you. St. Peter's dome rises at eye level—so close the architectural details visible, so perfectly framed it feels staged. Beyond it, the city cascades down hills toward ancient forums and distant mountains. Most couples choose this for ceremonies where Rome itself provides the only decoration needed, then move to indoor spaces as evening progresses. | 250 | 180 | 200 | 200 |
| Italian Garden The formal garden maintaining geometric Baroque precision—clipped hedges, gravel paths, classical proportions, and those sightlines the original designers calculated to frame specific Rome perspectives. This becomes your ceremony space when you want Baroque garden architecture combined with that commanding view. The formality creates natural elegance without requiring decoration; the centuries of cultivation speak for themselves. | 200 | - | 150 | 180 |
| Lemon Garden Where citrus trees perfume the air and that particular Roman golden light seems concentrated. More intimate than the Italian Garden, perfect for smaller ceremonies or cocktail receptions where guests want to wander rather than stand in formation. The name tells you everything—this is sensory experience as much as venue, where scent and sight combine. | 150 | - | 120 | 120 |
| Secret Garden Hidden behind walls, accessible through discrete passages—a garden designed for privacy within already private grounds. Cardinal Farnese understood the value of spaces within spaces, and this delivers: intimate ceremonies of eighty where guests feel they've discovered something not meant for public view, or cocktail hours for smaller groups wanting escape from larger celebrations happening simultaneously elsewhere on the property. | 80 | - | 60 | 80 |
| Gallery & Minor Halls Smaller salons throughout the villa suited for intimate dinners, rehearsal meals, or when your gathering requires Baroque elegance at human scale. Each space maintains period character—frescoes, furniture, proportions designed when entertaining meant smaller numbers and deeper conversation. | 100 | 80 | 80 | 60 |
World-Class Facilities
Five-star amenities designed for relaxation and enrichment
The Janiculum Position
Villa Aurelia's defining advantage—sitting atop one of Rome's seven hills at the perfect elevation where St. Peter's dome appears at eye level, the entire city spreads comprehensively below, and that sense of being above yet part of Rome creates perspective impossible from any other location. The cardinal chose this spot specifically for these views; they remain the villa's greatest asset.
Three Distinct Gardens
The Italian Garden with Baroque geometric precision, the Lemon Garden fragrant with citrus, the Secret Garden hidden for intimacy—each offers different ceremony possibilities and atmospheres. This variety means your celebration can flow between garden spaces, or you can choose the one matching your vision. Cardinal Farnese understood gardens as rooms without roofs; his vision still guides how these spaces work for modern celebrations.
Baroque Architecture
Authentic 17th-century construction means frescoed ceilings, marble floors, period proportions, and that particular Baroque sense of drama and elegance combined. You're not in a recreation or modern interpretation but genuine cardinal's residence where every architectural detail reflects power, culture, and refined taste as understood when Rome was still the center of the Catholic world.
American Academy Stewardship
Being managed by the American Academy in Rome ensures Villa Aurelia is preserved exactly as it was—no commercialization, no modernization that compromises historic integrity. Every event must meet Academy standards for respecting the property's significance. This creates parameters but also guarantees Villa Aurelia remains extraordinary, protected as cultural institution rather than operated as commercial venue.
The Piano Nobile
The main floor's interconnected salons (Music Room, Gallery, Dining Room) represent Baroque entertaining at its finest—spaces flowing naturally while maintaining distinct characters, proportions encouraging conversation while allowing grand gatherings, details everywhere rewarding close attention. Walking these rooms means experiencing how cardinals entertained when architecture communicated power and cultivation simultaneously.
Dining & Bar Areas
Distinguished spaces for dining, entertainment, and memorable celebrations
External Premium Catering Partners
Full Bar Service Available
No Onsite Restaurant
Curated Experiences
Our professional team arranges exceptional activities to enhance your stay
Location
Easily accessible from major cities and international airports
Address
Largo di Porta San Pancrazio 2, 00152 Rome, Italy
Travel Times
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about hosting your event at Villa Aurelia
What makes Villa Aurelia's view special?
What is the maximum wedding capacity?
Can guests stay overnight at Villa Aurelia?
Is exclusive use required?
What are the three gardens?
How late can celebrations continue?
What is the American Academy's role?
Why choose Villa Aurelia over other Roman venues?
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