You know Via Gramsci, in the Parioli neighborhood. What you may not know is that that street was created by cutting a historic villa’s park in half. It’s the same villa that was sold in 2021 for approximately 23 million euros: one of the most intriguing luxury home sales in Rome in recent years.
When a stretch of Via Gramsci was a private garden
In the early 19th century, there was a vineyard with a farmhouse here—the Vigna Lorenzini—overlooking Vicolo dell’Arco Oscuro. Today, that alley is the section of Viale Bruno Buozzi between Via Gramsci and Piazza Don Minzoni.
Around 1900, architect Carlo Busiri Vici, of the famous Busiri Vici dynasty of architects, transformed what was then Villa Dufour into a luxury residence.
Then came the Whitakers. Around 1920, Giuseppe Whitaker began subdividing the land. This led to the creation of Via Gramsci, which cut the original park in two and also divided other properties in the area, such as Villa Maraviglia.
So, if you happen to be passing through that area, keep in mind that a section of that street was once the Whitakers’ garden.
From Marsala to Mozia: The Family That Bought an Island
The Whitakers were entrepreneurs originally from Yorkshire who had made their fortune in Sicily by producing and exporting Marsala wine. In 1860, as the Thousand landed in Marsala, their baglio flew the British flag.
As a token of gratitude for supporting Garibaldi’s cause, the flag of the steamship Lombardo was donated to the baglio.
One of them, Joseph “Pip” Whitaker, even bought the entire island of Mozia and carried out archaeological excavations of the Phoenician city there. Talk about more than just a hobby.
Luxury Homes in Rome: Prices in the Parioli Neighborhood Are Nearly Double the Average
The Parioli neighborhood continues to be in a league of its own. In July 2026, the average asking price in the Parioli-Pinciano-Villa Ada area was approximately 7,000 euros per square meter—nearly double the citywide average, which stood at 3,960.
When it comes to million-euro homes in Rome, this hill is one of the names that always comes up.
