Villa Celimontana

This is a pretty, leafy walled garden, with a rather pokey playground; which does not stop swarms of local kids from climbing, running and holding birthday picnics here. The pleasant lawns are dotted with pieces of marble from the collection of the Mattei family, which owned the property from 1553 until 1928, when it became a public park. The graceful family villa, now housing the Italian Geographic Society, was built in the 16th century. Forlorn and forgotten at the southern end is one of Rome’s Egyptian obelisks. During the summer, the villa becomes the gorgeous venue for evening jazz concerts.