Villa Aurora. Rome's best kept secret?
Built in 1570 on the highest point in Rome, Casino di Villa Boncompagni Ludovis, often referred as Villa Aurora, has been in possession of the head of the Ludovisi and then Boncompagni Ludovisi family since 1621. It is particularly notable for its ceiling paintings by Carvaggio, Guercino, Tassi, Domenichino, and many others.
The villa represents the only remnant of a much larger suburban retreat established in the 16th century by Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte (1549–1627). The Cardinal was a diplomat, intellectual, art connoisseur, collector, protector and patron of famous figures such as Galileo Galilei and Caravaggio.
OWNERS OF VILLA AURORA: THE LATE PRINCE NICOLÒ BONCOMPAGNI LUDOVISI AND HIS WIFE PRINCESS RITA BONCOMPAGNI LUDOVISI
Meanwhile, the 2,200 square meters of Villa Aurora and a small parcel of land remained in the possession of the Ludovisi family. Apart from the works by Caravaggio and Guercino, it contains important works of art by Pomarancio, Michelangelo, and a collection of Roman and Greek artefacts.
"Certainly there is nothing better in Rome, and perhaps nothing so beautiful.."
In 1621, del Monte sold the villa and its extensive grounds to Ludovico Ludovisi, whose uncle Alessandro Ludovisi had assumed the Papacy earlier that year as Pope Gregory XV and made his nephew a cardinal the day after his coronation, at the age of 25. The cardinal expanded the property until he had created a 30-hectare park between the Porta Pinciana, the Porta Salaria and the convent of Sant'Isidoro, whose buildings were designed by Domenichino, with gardens (purportedly designed by André Le Nôtre), of which Henry James wrote in Portrait of Places (1883): "Certainly there is nothing better in Rome, and perhaps nothing so beautiful. Everything is inside: dark avenues shaped for centuries with scissors, valleys, clearings, groves."
The princes Boncompagni-Ludovisi, heirs to the celebrated property and its vast collections, subdivided and sold the property in 1883. Rome's Ludovisi district was built on the land where the park had been and bore the family's coat of arms. Of the historic buildings of the villa, only the Casino and the facade and staircase of the former Palazzo Grande remain, the latter now hidden behind what became the 19th-century Palazzo Margherita after the Italian State acquired it as a residence for the Queen consort of Italy, Margherita of Savoy. It now houses the U.S. embassy.
The villa could be the most expensive home ever sold at €470 million
Villa Aurora has recently claimed the title of the world's priciest real estate. The property, however, finds itself entangled in a bitter inheritance dispute between Princess Rita and her late husband's family. Following years of legal battles since her husband's demise in 2018, an Italian court ruling has compelled her to auction the home.
Princess Rita contends that her late husband's will grants her a lifetime right to reside in Villa Aurora. In the event of a sale, the proceeds are intended to be equally divided between her and her stepsons. Despite these claims, an agreement between the parties remains elusive, leading the court to mandate an auction. The princess, expressing her wish for the state to assume ownership, has reluctantly embraced the auction route.
Princess Rita encountered another obstacle when she was forcibly removed from the storied Casino dell’Aurora (April, 2023).This eviction, mandated by Judge Miriam Iappelli of Rome and executed by local law enforcement, introduces a fresh dimension to the intricate unfolding story.
PRINCESS RITA BONCOMPAGNI LUDOVISI ASKED IGNACE MEUWISSEN TO MARKET HER PROPERTY. THEIR ASSOCIATION DATES BACK TO HER LAST REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION OF THE GM BUILDING (NEW-YORK) TO DONALD TRUMP.
Adding another layer to the saga, luxury real estate specialist Ignace Meuwissen, initially tasked with securing a buyer, has faced challenges. A Belgian offer of €100 million fell short, and new revelations (September 2023) indicate that Villa Aurora is now discreetly offered off-market by Barnes. The revised terms include a unique condition of sealed-envelope bids. Meuwissen, however, refuses to participate, emphasizing the need to respect the expertise of real estate professionals and ensure fair compensation. The ongoing situation surrounding Villa Aurora unfolds like a captivating and protracted soap opera.
Gallery Villa Aurora
A collection of videos about Villa Aurora.
