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Villa Sciarra in Rome: a park full of fountains and topiary art
Villa Sciarra is a park of approximately 7,500 sq.m in Rome. It boasts a rich variety of Mediterranean flora and an unexpected sculptural decoration: statues and fountains that come from Villa Visconti in Brignano d'Adda, Lombardy. The heraldic serpent of the Visconti family can still be seen in the Fountain of the Satyrs and the Fountain of the Putti (or Cherubs).
The fountains and points of interest
Statues and fountains all share a woodland theme linked to depictions of the god Pan. The hedges are still shaped into animal and object forms, following the topiary art. Points of interest include: the large iron Aviary, which once housed peacocks; the Fountain of the Satyrs with the heraldic serpent; the Fountain of Diana and Endymion, a fountain with a small lake, decorated with a sculptural group; the Belvedere Fountain, designed by engineer Enrico Gennari in 1912; the Fountain of the Putti, or Cherubs, the most cheerful of all; the Turtle Fountain, the Snail Fountain, and the Sphinx Fountain.
What else to look for
The Tree Exedra is one of the most curious corners: green niches are carved into the hedge, each containing a statue representing a month of the year. Casino Barberini, the main building, is now home to the Italian Institute of Germanic Studies. Behind it lies the Montagnola, with a small fountain, and a semicircular marble bench, surrounded by laurel trees. Against the Walls of Urban VIII stands a small temple in stucco and wrought iron.
