Villa Aurelia on Gianicolo

“Villa Aurelia” on Gianicolo hill has an important role in Rome recent history. 

In 1849, during the war of the French troops against the Roman Republic, the villa, due to the elevated position that allowed control of the battlefield, became the headquarters of Garibaldi’s headquarters: it lasted a few days only, due to a hard bombing Garibaldi surrendered and left Rome to be ruled by the Pope for another 22 years before it became Italy’s legitimate Capital. 

Villa Aurelia was built in the 17th Century by Cardinal Girolamo Farnese: the so-called “Giardino de ‘Farnesi” was of great importance: an avenue of cypresses led to the square in front of the north facade (the main one), in front of which the large Italian garden extended. 
After the partial damages suffered during the siege of july 1849, a new owner, Mrs Heyland, started a vast intervention of arrangement of the buildings and of the garden.
Nowadays is part of the American Academy in Rome.