House of the Park (Casale Vigna Cardinali) – Caffarella Park

The Casale Vigna Cardinali, inside the Caffarella Park, is a wonderful example of traditional rural architecture of the Roman countryside, included in the “historical and monumental properties of medieval and modern age” in the Territorial Landscape Plan. The building is present in the Gregorian Land Registry (1816-1835) where it is defined as “house with courtyard for use in the vineyard”. Around 1870, the farmhouse was owned by Prince Alessandro Torlonia, son of Duke Giovanni Torlonia, who in 1816 had purchased the Tenuta della Caffarella from the Pallavicini family.

Since the twentieth century, the structure has been known as Casale di Vigna Cardinali and with this name it appears in the 1925 Military Geographic Institute Map. In the 1930s, in implementation of the laws for the reclamation of the Roman countryside, the Casale was the subject of a restoration project by the Torlonia family; in 1939, the property passed to Carlo Torlonia, and in 1950 to his nephew, the Marquis Alessandro Gerini.

In 1997 the Casale and part of the surrounding land were expropriated and are now part of the municipal heritage. In 2015, after important consolidation and restoration works, the structure became the first House of the Park.

The House of the Park offers first reception and tourist services such as guided naturalistic and historical-archaeological tours (also in foreign languages) and bike rental; guided tour service in minicar for the physically disabled and elderly; educational activities for schools and families in the spaces dedicated to horticulture and historical and naturalistic study; summer camps and the “Bosco Caffarella” nursery for little children. The outdoor space, in addition to the vegetable garden, hosts the bicycle workshop and various areas for recreation and rest.

The Casa del Parco is open to the public every day (except August and Christmas holidays). Its management is entrusted to Humus Onlus, an association that won the public tender for the concession of the service.

Services:

- Guided tours, school trips

- Environmental education excursions, on foot or by bike

- Bike rental, info and reservations 347 8424087

- Bike workshop,

- Educational gardens

- Guides, Books

- Refreshment point: Caffè Casa del Parco (coffee, drinks and sandwiches)

- Organization of parties with self-managed spaces and/or entertainment (info 366 9852219)

- Book presentations

- Events to promote the territory in collaboration with external associations

Photo credits: Facebook official page