Villa Pamphilj was divided into several sections which were separated by railings and walls. The southern part of the villa was used for hunting while the eastern one was used for farming. The gates allowing communication between the various sections were designed with care. The Pamphilj had so many properties that they had a permanent position for an architect.

Fontana del Tevere o del Gigante

Gabriele Valvassori was the architect of the Pamphilj between 1720 and 1739 and he designed several gates and small fountains in the area near Villa Vecchia. One of these is unusual for the use of tufa for a large statue of a river; the material is dark and does not allow for fine sculpting, so the choice of Valvassori is somewhat puzzling.

Fontana del Giglio (fleur-de-lys)
In the last decades of the XVIIIth century Prince Marcantonio Borghese renovated his villa and this prompted the Doria Pamphilj to do the same (in 1760 the last of the Pamphilj passed away and the property was inherited by the heirs of Anna Pamphilj who had married a Doria, a noble Genoese family). At that time the architect in charge was Francesco Bettini who relocated a heraldic fountain designed by Algardi at the top of a hill.

Detail of Fontana del Giglio
Bettini designed a long waterfall which ended in a small pond: it was decorated with other fountains and it had hidden underground passages. Today we regard playing hide-and seek as a game for children; in the XVIIIth century it was a popular pastime for wealthy adults and these secret passages added to the fun.

XIXth Century Additions

Fontana del Cupido by Andrea Busiri Vici
On April 30, 1849 Villa Doria Pamphilj became the scene of fighting between the French troops who were trying to restore papal authority in Rome and Garibaldi and the many volunteers who fought with him for the Defence of Rome. At the end of the day the villa was controlled by Garibaldi and his men. At the beginning of June however the defenders had to retrench behind Porta S. Pancrazio; the ensuing artillery fire lasted for a month and it led to the destruction of Villa Corsini, Villa il Vascello, Casino Farnese and Villa Spada. Villa Doria Pamphilj was not directly hit by artillery, but the movement of troops and equipment damaged the XVIIth century setup of the gardens.
After the end of the war Andrea Busiri Vici designed a new fountain which made use of elements of earlier fountains or decorations; its rigid geometrical design makes it similar to a wedding cake.

(left) Monument to the French soldiers; (right) 1902 Pamphilj Chapel
The Doria Pamphilj were keen supporters of the papal cause and in 1851 they commissioned Andrea Busiri Vici a memorial to the French soldiers fallen for the conquest of Rome.
The last major addition made by the Doria Pamphily to their villa was a very incongruous family chapel; its style is vaguely Byzantine.
Read William Dean Howells' account of his visit to this villa in 1908 and learn about the difficulties the Doria Pamphilj had in properly maintaining their property.

On the Farm

(left) Coat of arms of Pope Innocent X above the external gate of the farm; (right) views of the former farm
During the XIXth century the Doria Pamphilj bought some farms which stood to the west of the villa; also this section is today a public park; it does not have elaborate fountains or ancient statues, but it has that Bel Respiro (nice breathing) which was the other name of Villa Pamphilj.

Casale di Giovio, a farmhouse bought by the Doria Pamphilj during the XIXth century (in the inset a relief above the entrance)
Arco dell'Acqua Paola

(left) Arches of the aqueduct; (right) view over S. Pietro framed by an arch

The northern wall of the park is in part made up of arches of an old Roman aqueduct which Pope Paul V restored to carry water to Trastevere and Borgo. It also supplied Villa Pamphilj with the water needed by its many fountains.

(left-above) Via Aurelia and the arch; (left-below) coat of arms of Pope Paul V and a detail of the decoration; (right) celebratory inscription

The aqueduct ended with a large fountain (Mostra dell'Acqua Paola), but its completion was also celebrated by a triumphal arch across Via Aurelia.

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Excerpts from Giuseppe Vasi 1761 Itinerary related to this page:

Villa Panfili del bel respiro E' questa una delle più pregevoli, e magnifiche ville di Roma, non solamente per la sua grande estensione di sei miglia di circuito con lunghissimi viali coperti e scoperti, giardini segreti ornati di statue e bassirilievi antichi, boschetti e parchi per le caccie, peschiere e fontane deliziose; con il gran teatro ornato di marmi e sculture antiche molto considerabili, e giuochi di acqua tanto diversi; e per la stanza pastorale colla statua di Fauno, che colla zampogna in bocca mostra di suonare; ed affinchè la favola venisse avvivata dal vero, evvi dietro la medesima statua un organo, che col moto dell'acqua fa diverse suonate, replicate poi dall'eco, pure fatto artificiosamente: onde estatici corrono gli spettatori alla melodia del suono: ma se non saranno accorti nell'uscire verranno tutti bagnati. Ma ancora e riguardevole questa villa per il nobile casino ornato tanto di fuori, che di dentro di statue, busti, e bassirilievi antichi, e di sommo pregio, distribuiti con magnificenza, e decoro secondo il disegno dell'Algardi; oltre le varie altre curiosità, che a tutti sono fedelmente mostrate dal Custode.

VIVETE FELICI!

With these words (have a happy life) to his readers (and to you) Vasi closes his tenth and last book. VIVETE FELICI!
Next step in Day 6 itinerary: Monastero di S. Maria dei Sette Dolori