| Villa Ada | |
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.JPG) View of Villa Ada | |
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| Coordinates | 41°55′55″N12°30′05″E / 41.932039°N 12.501497°E /41.932039; 12.501497 |
Villa Ada is a park inRome, Italy, with a surface of 180 hectares (450 acres; 1.8 km2) it is the second largest in the city afterVilla Doria Pamphili.[1] It is located in the northeastern part of the city.
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The wooded expanse was owned by the Italian royalHouse of Savoy in the latter half of the nineteenth century; it contained the royal residence (1872–1878). In 1878 the area came under the control of Count Tellfner of Switzerland, who named it in honor of his wife Ada.[2] The royal family regained control of the land in 1904 and they retained control of the area until 1946. During their ownership it came to be known as Villa Savoia.
As of 2009 the area contains both public and private areas. The public area is controlled by the Council of Rome; the private area is controlled by the Egyptian Embassy, although the Town Council has made a formal claim to take control of the whole area.[1] The private portion is under constant patrol by police or army personnel.
The public portion of the park is much larger than the private area. It contains an artificial lake and many trees, includingstone pines,holm oaks,laurels and a very raremetasequoia, imported fromTibet in 1940. Entrance to the park is free. One may rent canoes, bicycles, or riding horses. There is a large swimming pool.[1]
Since 1994, during the summer the park hosts theworld-musicfestival and the "Roma incontra il mondo" (Rome meets the World)festival, against racism, war and the death penalty.
The "Bunker Villa Ada Savoia," a bunker built in the early 1940s by theHouse of Savoy to protect KingVictor Emmanuel III and QueenElena from Allied bombs, is now open for tours. The non-profit association, Roma Sotteranea,[3] restored the bunker, which had fallen to ruin and had been vandalized, and runs the tours for a small cost.
Also,Benito Mussolini was taken captive by King Victor Emmanuel III duringWorld War II from that house.
Villa Ada travel guide from Wikivoyage
Media related toVilla Ada (Rome) at Wikimedia Commons| Preceded by Bioparco di Roma | Landmarks of Rome Villa Ada | Succeeded by Villa Borghese gardens |
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