Over the ruins of the Palatine, between the Claudian and Nero aqueducts and the Baths of Caracalla, hidden on the Celio hill there is a park of old holm-oaks and pine trees, its name is Villa Celimontana.
This ground on the Caelian hill, previously a vineyard, was acquired by the Mattei family in the sixteenth century. Within the park there is the Villa itself which was built by Giacomo del Duca, a Michelangelo’s disciple, for the Mattei family between 1581 and 1586.
The original villa has had its shape changed over the centuries, but originally it was perhaps a single-store unit which featured a portico in the façade.
During the First World War the Italian State took temporary possession of the villa and in 1923 many of the sculptures in the gardens were sent to the Museo nazionale Romano.
In 1552 Filippo Neri introduced the ceremony of Visiting the Seven Churches, the pilgrimage was like a penitence for the Romans faithfuls.
They had to let their leisures aside for that time and walking along the route that went through the seven main Roman basilicas.
The Mattei family decided to let their villa’s grounds to be used by pilgrims to taking a break and relaxing in.
The family was so generous that served them also a wide range of food: bread, wine, cheese, eggs, apples and salami.
During summer time the Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival is held here. This is one of the most famous jazz festivals and it draws every year an impressive number of music fans.
Besides a great number of concerts, the schedule of the festival features art exhibitions and meetings with authors too.
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