Among the hidden treasures in Rome, places that tour guides rarely quote but it’s worth a visit, there is the House of the Owls.
Hidden in a corner of the large park of Villa Torlonia, one of the most recent Roman noble villas, this small princely residence made of towers, bay windows and charming colors seems like a place came out of a fairy tale, surrounded by a magical atmosphere and walls full of history.
The House of the Owls was the residence of Prince Giovanni Torlonia the younger until his death in 1938, and it-s the result of a series of transformations to the nineteenth century Swiss Cabin which, positioned at the edge of the park and hidden by an hillock, was originally intended as a refuge from the formality of the main residence.
From 1916 the building began to be known as the “House of the Owls”, due to the almost obsessive presence of the owl theme in the decorations and furnishings of the House, wanted by the prince, a lover of esoteric symbols.
The internal areas laids out on two levels, both particularly highly finished, with paintings, stucco works, mosaics, majolica. The presence of the glass is the distinctive feature of the building, representing a unique feature in the international artistic outlook.
In 1944, with the occupation by Anglo-American troops, the destruction of the building began, then exacerbated by a fire in 1991 and vandalism.
The current appearance of the House of the Owls is the result of a restoration work carried out from 1992 to 1997, which has been able to restore to the city one of the most unusual and interesting buildings of the early years of the last century.
Today the House of the Owls is a museum, with a short path and numerous artwork to admire; it’s a perfect solution to spend some time in the park, away from the tourist crowds of the big city.
It’s open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm, the cost of the ticket is 6 Euro. All practical information can be found on the official website.
