Villa Borghese is located in a lush park of approximately 40 hectares, halfway between Anzio and Nettuno. The Villa Borghese Provincial Nature Reserve can be considered the last strip of the ancient forest of Nettuno. It represents a resource of primary importance for its natural, historical and architectural characteristics.
The ancient history of Villa Borghese or Bell’Aspetto
The Reserve takes its name from the villa, located on a hill overlooking the sea. It was built, with the name of Villa di Bell’Aspetto, in 1648, by Cardinal Vincenzo Costaguti. The villa remained the property of the Costagutis until 1818, the year in which the Marquis Luigi sold it to Giovanni Torlonia. Immediately afterwards it was sold to Camillo Borghese.
In 1944, the advanced headquarters of the 6th Corps of the American Fifth Army took up residence in the dungeons of the villa during the landing at Anzio. In 1978 Steno Borghese ceded four hectares of park in the upstream area to the Municipality of Nettuno free of charge, to be used as public greenery, while the park and the villa were recognized and designated as a national monument.
The characteristics of the nature reserve
The interiors of Villa Borghese are essential, devoid of any decorative detail. The furnishings with the rich library come from Palazzo Statella in Napoli. The castle and an octagonal tower remain in the park.
In the central portion of the park there is currently a holm oak forest with domestic and Aleppo pine. The layout of the Park is inspired by the Italian Renaissance garden for the layout of the flowerbeds and avenues. While it differs due to the presence of fruit or aromatic plants derived from the medieval garden. The site is also home to nesting bird species such as greenfinches, blackbirds, owls, and migratory bird species such as swallows.
