The fifteenth century Villa Taverna, commissioned by Cardinal Consalvi, was first rented by the U.S. Embassy in 1933.  The Villa and its historical gardens are filled with valuable art from antiquity through the Renaissance, to the nineteenth century. The Villa and gardens were purchased by the U.S. Embassy in 1948 from Princess Ida Borromeo-Taverna. The Villa has since served as the residence for 19 American ambassadors, and is protected by Italian law for cultural heritage. This property is huge: one city block or 7000 m². It's filled with spectacular hand-painted ceramic pavement from Vietri and magnificent gardens. You can only visit the Villa if you have the good fortune to be a guest at the Villa Taverna ambassadorial residence, which we were last week. Villa Taverna is not to be confused with Palazzo Taverna, also magnificent and not only visitable, but this exquisite Palazzo occasionally has a few outstanding apartments for rent. Have a listen to learn about both of these unique and historic Rome properties.