WE FIRST HEARD about Villa Aurora five years ago and have been wanting to visit ever since. Wedged between the luscious Villa Borghese, the touristy Spanish Steps, and infamous Via Veneto. If you’re lucky enough to score a visit here, you’re likely to be given a tour by the Principessa Boncompagni-Ludovisi, whose passionate retelling of the villa’s and family’s history provide a direct connection to several centuries’ worth of art and aristocratic gossip.

A spectacular 16th century villa chockfull of art that must be one of Rome’s best-kept secrets.įew people have heard of Villa Aurora, which is basically all that remains of the garden of Villa Ludovisi, once the most magnificent garden in Rome.īut it’s hard to beat Villa Aurora in terms of history and art- from 2000 year old Roman statues to the only known painting that Baroque bad boy Caravaggio executed on a ceiling.