“Il tinello de’ li gentil’ homini”
Villa Borghese’s Loggia dei Vini has reopened to the public with the “Lavinia” project, which combines history, architecture and contemporary art. This fascinating but lesser-known building has been restored to offer new cultural experiences. Originally used to store wines and host summer banquets, the Loggia has been renovated to include spaces dedicated to contemporary art.
The Lavinia project, inspired by painter Lavinia Fontana, was carried out in three phases, with the first completed on Oct. 19. The restoration, financed by Ghella and supervised by R.O.M.A. Consorzio under the supervision of the Capitoline Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, brought back to life the interior vault and damaged frescoes. The Wine Loggia, characterized by an oval floor plan and a large central marble table, was famous for its banquets and had a snow tunnel for creating sorbets.
The contemporary art project is curated by Salvatore Lacagnina and involves artists such as Ross Birrell & David Harding and Enzo Cucchi. Site-specific works will enrich the space until January 26, 2025. During this period, the pavilion will be open free of charge from Thursday to Sunday.
An interesting aspect of the project is the collaboration with Manuela Monteforte of Gelateria Pellegrino to recreate historic sorbets, made only with sugar and fruit. These sorbets will be available both at the Wine Lodge and at Gelateria Pellegrino, starting with the orange and lemon verbena flavor, created in collaboration with chef Alessandro Miocchi of Retrobottega.
A bit of history
The architectural complex of the Grotta and the Loggia dei Vini was built between 1609 and 1618, parallel to the construction of the Casino Nobile at Villa Borghese. The Loggia, designed for the banquets of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, was known as the “tinello de’ li gentil’ homini” and was perfectly integrated into the formal garden of the park. It formed a scenic backdrop visible to guests visiting the cardinal.
Construction began with the grotto, intended for wine storage and connected to the Casino by a tunnel. The sumptuousness of the complex is documented by historical sources that describe elements such as Egyptian sphinxes, a rustic fountain and peperino birds. In the center of the Loggia was a large white marble table with recesses to keep drinks cool. A mechanism on the ceiling allowed fragrant petals to fall on diners.