Castello della Cecchignola

The area adjacent to the castle, which in Roman times was outside the city walls, must have been a holiday resort for Roman patricians. In 1939, a domus dating back to the Republican era (2nd-1st century BC) was discovered. In the same year, a mosaic emblem was found in this dwelling, which is still housed today in the National Roman Museum at Palazzo Massimo. Roman presence is also visible at the base of the main tower and in the walls, which incorporate parts of various Roman buildings and structures, such as basalt paving stones from ancient roads, probably found in the nearby ancient Via Ardeatina.

The first indirect written testimonies of the Castle's existence date back to 1217, when Pope Honorius III, in a papal bull referring to the estates of the monks of Saint Alexius of Rome, said: duas pedicas terrae in Piliotti, vel Cicomola, indicating "la Cecchignola" with the latter. In 1458, the property was sold by the Capizucchi family to Cardinal Basilio Bessarione. After various leases, in 1467 it was inherited by the chapel of Saint Eugenia in the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome, which, in turn, resold it in 1477 to Pietro Margani. In the cardinal's will, the estate is cited as Cecchignola nova extra portam. Monsignor Nicola Maria Nicolai in his Memorie, leggi e osservazioni sulle campagne e sull'annona di Roma will cite the estate owned by the Grand Priory of Rome of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta as new, and the estate of the Cenci family as old. After the Barberini ownership and many vicissitudes, Cecchignola became part of the possessions of Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli-Borghese, nephew of the reigning Pope Paul V. The pontiff reclaimed the area and had a park set up in the Cecchignola ditch, all thanks to craftsmen between 1618 and 1619. In the last years of the 17th century, Cecchignola was owned by the Pamphili family, as confirmed by the news of 1695 according to which Cardinal Pamphilj would have offered a lunch to the Roman cardinals here. In the 18th century, it became part of the properties of the Lepri family. After passing into the possession of the Grand Priory of Rome of the Order of Malta in 1770, Pope Leo XII had the estate acquired by the Vatican.

The numerous embellishments and restorations added and completed by Pope Leo XII were removed by his successor to the papal throne, Pius VIII, who transported them to Castel Gandolfo. In 1832, the estate passed to Alessandro Torlonia and his family. His initials AT can still be read today on the main gate, which has since constituted the new monumental entrance. Another proof of the Torlonia family's presence at Cecchignola is the coat of arms, which appears several times on the walls of the estate. The Castle of Cecchignola, after years of restoration between the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, has returned to its ancient splendor, maintaining the characteristics of the various eras that have marked and distinguished it. Today, the estate is home to the University of Roman Marble Workers, specializing in stone art, sculpture, and ancient marbles, and a library.

Leila Tavi, Un castello di periferia - La tenuta della Cecchignola tra passato e presente, in InStoria, XLIII, n. 12, Rome, GBE - Ginevra Bentivoglio Editoria, December 2008. URL consulted on October 9, 2014.

Wikimedia Commons contains images or other files on Castello della Cecchignola

Official website, on castellodellacecchignola.it. Torre della Cecchignola, on Medioevo.Roma.