  Casino e Villa Corsini fuori di Porta S. Pancrazio (Book 10) (Day 6) In this page:
The Corsini had a Palace with a large garden
in Trastevere. Their Villa was not very far away, just outside Porta S.
Pancrazio. There is less than half a mile between the limit of the garden
of their city palace and the entrance of Villa Corsini. The Casino (designed by Mattia de' Rossi)
was called Casino dei Quattro
Venti (of the Four Winds) due to its healthy position at the top of a hill. The plate shows
also il Vascello (the Vessel or Ship) or Villa Giraud which got this name
because of its shape. The view is taken from the green dot in the small 1748 map here below.
In the description below the plate Vasi made reference to: 1) Tavern;
2) Street leading to S. Pancrazio; 3) Entrance to Villa Corsini; 4) Street leading to Villa Panfili; 5) Casino del Vascello.
The 1849 siege of Rome by the French led to heavy bombardment of
the area around Porta S. Pancrazio and the two villas were almost completely
destroyed. The tavern shown in the plate is now a little cafè where the glass door is painted with a portrait of Giuseppe Garibaldi, who fought in defence of the Roman Republic.
What was left of Villa Corsini was bought by the Doria Pamphilj who
added it to their adjoining Villa del Bel Respiro. On the
site of the Casino they erected a monumental entrance to their Villa which
is still named Casino dei Quattro Venti (the four statues at the top represent winds).
The long inscription makes reference to the previous owners and
to the 1849 war.
A symbol of the Corsini can be found in the vases which now embellish the secret garden
of the Casino dell'Algardi in Villa del Bel Respiro.
Very little is left of Villa Giraud, but what is left is very intriguing. The Casino was built in 1663 by cardinal Elpidio Benedetti and it
was designed by Plautilla Bricci, helped by her brother Basilio.
This old church near some catacombs was rebuilt in the XVth century. Inside a typical triumphal baroque coat of arms of Alexander VII.
Next plate in Book 10: Villa e Casino Panfili detta del Bel Respiro Next step in Day 6 itinerary: Villa e Casino Panfili detta del Bel Respiro
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All images © 1999 - 2003 by Roberto Piperno. Write to romapip@quipo.it