A Jacobite Gazetteer - Lazio

Aerial view Villa Tuscolana, formerly called Villa Rufinella, is the highest villa on the hill above the town of Frascati. 1 In 1773 the villa became the property of the Apostolic Camera, an office of the Holy See. 2 It was subsequently used as a country home by King Henry IX and I. 3 In 1804 the villa was acquired by Prince Lucien Bonaparte, who in 1820 sold it to Princess Maria Anna of Savoy, sister of King Charles IV and King Victor; there is a memorial inscription to Maria Anna in the neighbouring Capuchin Monastery. At the death of Princess Maria Anna in 1824 ownership of the villa passed to her brother King Charles Felix of Sardinia, and at his death in 1831 ownership passed to his widow Queen Maria Cristina of Sardinia. 4 Today the villa is a luxury hotel, the "Grand Hotel Villa Tuscolana". The main entrance is on Via del Tuscolo. There is also a back entrance (formerly the main entrance to the villa) at the top of Via Massaia near the Capuchin Monastery. Website: www.villatuscolana.com. Telephone: 39.06.942.900.

Notes 1 This villa should not be confused with Villa Falconieri, formerly called Villa La Rufina, which is located several hundred metres away. 2 Villa e Paese: Dimore Nobili del Tuscolo e di Marino (Rome: De Luca, 1980), 138. The villa had formerly been in the possession of the Society of Jesus. 3 King Henry's diary records that in 1788 he stayed at the villa from July 7 until September 7. Cf. Diario per l'Anno MDCCLXXVIII di Enrico Benedetto, Cardinale Duca di Yorck (London: Chiswick Press, 1876). I believe that he also stayed here on other occasions. 4 Villa e Paese, 138. Image 1 (Aerial view): "Grand Hotel Villa Tuscolana", http://www.romereservation.com/inglese/villatuscolana.htm.