Casina delle civette Travel Guide

The Casina delle Civette, meaning House of Owls, is one of the most unique and fairytale-like buildings in Rome, located within the Villa Torlonia. Initially designed in 1840 by Giuseppe Jappelli as a Swiss Cabin, it served as a relaxing retreat for Prince Alessandro Torlonia. In the early 20th century, Giovanni Torlonia Jr. transformed it into an eccentric, medieval-style village with Art Nouveau influences, adding loggias, towers and stained glass windows.The building's name comes from the recurring owl motifs in its stained glass windows and internal decor. The windows, created between 1910 and 1925, showcase the evolution of stained glass techniques. Inside, visitors can admire rooms decorated with stuccoes, mosaics, paintings, majolica tiles and wrought iron sculptures.After a period of neglect and damage during the Anglo-American occupation in 1944, the Casina delle Civette was restored in the 1990s and converted into a museum. Today, it is part of the Museums of Villa Torlonia, offering visitors a glimpse into the artistic tastes and whimsical imagination of the Torlonia family.