In this area, the Aurelian Walls formed the northern boundary of the vast residence of Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, nephew of Pope Gregory XV (1621–1623). The villa and its gardens, renowned among contemporaries and travelers alike, housed a celebrated archaeological collection. Tree-lined avenues framed the scenic garden layouts. The avenue leading to the Casino dell’Aurora was dominated by a monumental bust of a young soldier inspired by Alexander the Great. Remarkably, the sculpture survives, still embedded in a tower of the Walls, visible today along Via Campania.
Alcove of Alexander the Great