Mussolini's Former Residence Opens to the Public

Former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's residence, the lavish 19th century Villa Torlonia in Rome, will soon be open to visitors. Inside the villa are beautiful frescoes, stuccos, and marbles. Underneath, Mussolini had two underground structures built to protect himself and his family during air raids and gas attacks. Visitors will be able to tour the villa and the underground chambers in small groups with advance reservations. Villa Torlonia is part of a large complex that includes a reproduction of a frescoed Etruscan tomb, a theater, a Swiss chalet, and extensive gardens. The gardens have been open to the public since 1978 and classical concerts are held in the gardens during summer. You can make reservations for a 2-hour tour of the villa by email to service@romeguide.it

During the restoration, archaeologists discovered a second-century Christian tomb with three bodies. In Roman times, the area was part of a burial ground and held corridors of one of the city's Jewish catacombs. Future plans include opening the ancient catacombs and building a museum. If you're interested in seeing more of underground Rome, there are several places you can go. Find out more in Europe for Visitors' Underground Rome. There are also other Catacombs you can visit.