Villa Doria Pamphili Park, Rome

We arrived  in the romantic city of Rome one beautiful October morning just after dawn. Although unsurprisingly exhausted by our transatlantic flight, we were determined to fight the jetlag, and so hit the ground running (or at least walking), as usual.

We spent much of that day exploring Vatican City and the surrounding area. Early evening found us about a mile to the south, in the Villa Doria Pamphili Park, led there by a string of geocaches.

St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, from the south

I didn’t realise at the time, but Villa Doria Pamphili is one of the largest parks in Rome, covering an area of approximately 450 acres.

There was already a villa on the site when the Pamphili family purchased the property in 1630 and started enlarging the estate by buying up adjoining vineyards. When Cardinal Giambattista Pamphili became Pope Innocent X in 1644, the whole thing had to be upgraded, of course.

Pope Innocent X’s Casino del Bel Respiro (which has nothing to do with gambling, by the way)

The last Pamphili died in 1760 and the estate eventually became the property of Prince Giovanni Andrea IV Doria. It has been known as Villa Doria Pamphili ever since, although today it’s a public park.

Cascades/grotto on the formal canal

The modern park contains a wealth of buildings, sculptures, fountains and gardens, many of them dating back centuries. However, the same can be said of practically everywhere you look in Rome.

Cappella Doria Pamphili

Consequently, the thing, or more accurately, things that really captured my attention were the trees. Perhaps because they reminded me so much of the Serengeti’s acacias.

Acacia-like trees in Villa Doria Pamphili Park
(Perhaps someone knows what species they really are)

They looked especially stunning backlit by the sinking sun, as day turned to night.

Villa Doria Pamphili Park at sunset

This post was inspired by this week’s photo challenges of Backlit from Jennifer’s One Word Photo Challenge, Romance from Nancy’s A Photo A Week Challenge, and Jo’s Monday Walk.

Backlit by the sun, you could almost be in Africa

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