Originally, the area were now the Hotel stands, was included in the "Horti Sallustiani" (Sallustius’gardens), realized by a famous Roman historian, Sallustius Crispus, who died in 34 B.C.

As a matter of fact, several archaeological findings, confirming the above, were found in front of the Hotel entrance during recent paving works.

We know that Emperor Vespasian often resided in the area and that Emperor Nerva died therein; moreover, Alarico, king of the Visigoths, conquering Rome in A.D. 410, entered through the "Horti Sallustiani".

Many centuries later, a new area developed where the old "Villa Ludovisi" was created by decision of Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, nephew of Alessandro Ludovisi, become Pope Gregorio XV (1621-1623).

The villa, whose construction started in 1622, was included in an area extended from the Aurelian Walls up to via di Porta Pinciana (as far as the present corner of via Ludovisi). Following the boundaries of the Saint Isidoro and Capuchins gardens (today's via Veneto and via Bissolati, going up via Friuli) and then, the road up to Porta Salaria, as far as the boundaries with "Villa Altieri", today's via Boncompagni and via Romagna.

Villa Ludovisi in a G. B. Piranesi’s etching (ca. 1745).

The villa, famous in all Europe for its beauty, was conceived as a great garden where buildings were secondary.

Between 1825 and 1851, other two important properties were annexed to it: "Villa Belloni" and "Villa Borroni".

Its transformation came after the town planning development occurring, after the proclamation of Rome as the Capital of the Kingdom of Italy (1871).

The Urban Development Plan ("U.D.P") adopted by the Rome City Council in 1883 did not include "Villa Ludovisi" in its expansions areas:

From the Rome City Council "General Urban Development Plan" (1883).

In May 1884, a layout plan was submitted to the Mayor, presumably by Prince Ludovisi, for a new district to be built where "Villa Ludovisi" was located:

Submitted parcelling-out plan for Villa Ludovisi (1884).

This plan, kept at the Capitoline Archive (Archivio Capitolino, title 54, protocol n. 27309-1884) has a footnote on the back, which reads:

"To the Cabinet of the Mayor 30th of May 1884, signed by Mr. A. Viviani Engineer", and underneath "Found among papers left by His Excellency the Duke of Torlonia".

In 1885, "Villa Borghese" was donated by the old owners to the Italian Government, which then gave it to the Rome City Council, to create a public park (opened to public in 1901).

With the aim of connecting the park to the city centre, the Rome City Council took on the realization of via Veneto as a prosecution of via del Tritone, from Piazza Barberini; a first part was realized up to the Capuchins’ row of trees.

Thus, "Villa Ludovisi" private portion happened to be located in a privileged position, and even though the 1883 General Urban Development Plan ("U.D.P.") did not include it in the expansion areas, in January 1886 a special "Agreement" was signed between the Mayor, Duke Leopold Torlonia and the "Società generale immobiliare", that then sold the areas.

Layout plan attached to the Rome City Council Resolution for the approval of the "Agreement" for the renovation of Villa Ludovisi (1886).

With the Resolutions of 12th and 16th February 1886, the Rome City Council approved the "Agreement" on the road works for the new "Villa Ludovisi" district. The Council  undertook to start procedures in order to become owner of the  portion of land needed to open and extend the avenue leading to Porta Pinciana.

Rome City Government Resolution for the grant of a permit to Mr. Antonio Ventura, Eng., in order to build lots A and Z of the 12th  block of Villa Ludovisi (1886).


In particular, the ownership of the 12th block in the "Agreement", namely the block including the building in question, passed into the hands of Mr. Antonio Ventura, Eng..
On the 19th of June 1886, Mr. Ventura submitted an application to the Mayor of Rome, requesting a permit to build lots A and C, as per the project submitted, as it comes out from records kept at the Capitoline Archive (Archivio Capitolino, title 54, prot. no. 55785-1886): the project is made up of a planimetric scheme of various plots, with some attached tables.
The block had been divided into seven plots corresponding to seven buildings with similar characteristics, with an internal courtyard measuring ca. 50/90sqm.

12th plot location plan (1886).


The structure of the building overlooking via Veneto corresponds to the building C in the location plan, and is almost exactly the same as the present one; whereas the structure of building C, overlooking via Sicilia and corresponding to the building D in the plan appears to have have been modified.

12th plot location plan (1886), with details of the two buildings that later would be annexed.


The courtyard was bigger and one of the walls in the bearing structure was not in the same position compared to the present one.
Probably, this change was introduced during the construction, whereas some elements of the courtyards and separating areas were added and/or modified at a later stage.
 Even for what concerns  the tables, as a rule, the typologies shown have been respected with exception for some details (such as balconies and ornamental  friezes): the present prospect of the building corresponds to the project design of the front of buildings C and A; whilst that the one of the building overlooking via Sicilia corresponds to the project design of the front of building C – D.

Original building front façade: entrance on via Veneto.

Original building front façade: entrance on via Sicilia.


In real terms, the present situation is quite similar to the one of the original project, which was very schematic and basically repeated the typology then in fashion for upper and middle-class homes.

In 1889, the buildings had already been finished.

One century later, the Rome City Council, on the occasion of the Jubilee 2000, approved the union and the restoration of the two buildings, with separate entrances, one on via Veneto no. 155 and the other one on via Sicilia no. 24: then “Grand hotel via Veneto” was born.