Villa Celimontana: the quiet garden behind the Colosseum

Updated on October 5, 2026

Villa Celimontana is a public park on the Caelian Hill, ten minutes' walk from the Colosseum, where people come to picnic in the shade of umbrella pines and holm oaks, hardly meeting any tourists. Entry is free. It is a large garden in the ancient centre that is not an archaeological site: lawns, paths, fountains, an Egyptian obelisk and, in summer, an open-air jazz and music festival. The park opens early in the morning and closes in the late afternoon (hours below); a full walk takes 30 to 45 minutes. The garden was originally that of the 16th-century Villa Mattei, whose casino, now the seat of the Italian Geographical Society, can be seen from the paths.

Highlights

The entrance on Via della Navicella

A gate with a pediment, near the little Navicella fountain, opens onto the park. Access is free.

The paths and lawns

Under tall trees, paths lead to lawns and ponds. It is the ideal place for a rest in the shade after visiting the underground sites of the Caelian, with benches.

The villa's casino

The yellow façade of the Casino Mattei rises out of the pines. It is not open to visitors, but you can see it well from the lawns.

The obelisk of Ramesses II

In the middle of the park stands a granite obelisk from Egyptian times, brought to Rome in antiquity, given to the Mattei family in the 16th century and raised in their garden.

Village Celimontana

Every summer, free concerts (jazz, swing, dance nights) take place in the evening in the park; the 2026 edition ran from 15 May to 5 September, from 9pm to about midnight. The programme changes every year.

Practical info

Tips

The park is free, but its hours are those of a public garden: 1 May to 31 October 7am-6pm and 1 November to 30 April 7am-5pm according to the City, to be confirmed before you come. Combine it with the Roman houses of the Caelian, the Basilica of San Clemente and the Colosseum. Our neighbourhood guide: the Caelian.