Strada dei Vini dei Castelli Romani

DOC Areas> Frascati> Towns

Monte Porzio Catone> Monuments

Name
Villa Mondragone

Construction's age
16th century

Location
Via del Tuscolo

Visits
from 1981, the villa belongs to the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" trat has transformed it into a modern Congress Centre, hosting and organising both national and international congresses, scientific conferences, exhibitions, concerts, theatrical plays and other cultural activities (for information: phone +39.06.9401941; e-mail info@villamondragone.it)

Accessibility

from the Monte Porzio Catone A1 motorway exit, turn right and drive along the Via Fontana Candida and Via Pilozzo up to Via Frascati junction. Turn right and drive up to number 51; enter the gate located after the villa Vecchia Hotel and drive along a treed road up to a T-junction. Turn left and carry on driving until you reach the entrance.

Tourist signs
full tourist information available

Guidebooks
the public library holds a collection of tourist guides and booklets and is located in Via Garibaldi,1 - phone +39.06.94475280, e-mail bicom.monteporzioc @ sirio.regione.lazio.it

Villa Mondragone

One of the largest Tuscolane villas built on the ruins of a Roman villa, probably belonging to the Roman noble Family of the Quintili. The Cardinal Altemps ordered its construction to host Gregorio XIII (1572-1585), who loved this places. It is right here, that Gregorio XIII issued the bull to reform the Julian calendar. The villa was named after the dragon represented over the coat of arms of the Boncompagni, the Family of Gregorio XIII. Martino Longhi il Vecchio was charged to build the structure. He designed a first structure, corresponding to the central body of the wing towards the valley. It consists of a rectangular block around a large room with double height, which is called ‘degli svizzeri', with two symmetrical side wings and having some lodges.

Four years later, a second part was built, the ‘Retirata' on the opposite side of the structure. In 1613 this villa was bought by the cardinal Scipione Borghese.
The previous structures were gathered in a single building following the design of Vasanzio: a huge quadrilateral construction linking also the ‘Retirata'; in this way it was built a wide internal court surrounded by an Italian garden, with a portico towards the valley and a teatro delle acque (fountains with choreographic jets of waters) towards the hill.

In 1865 it was property of the Jesuit priests, which built the well-known college.