Villa Montalto Peretti Massimo (Largo Di Villa Peretti) - Rome

Villa Montalto Peretti Massimo, also known as Villa Negroni, was a significant villa located in the heart of present-day R. XVIII Castro Pretorio in Rome. Established in 1834, the villa was demolished in the late 19th century to make way for the urban development and construction of the massive Termini railway station complex.
Originally spanning parts of the Viminal, Quirinal, and Esquiline hills, the villa had a perimeter of approximately six kilometers. It was acquired by Felice Peretti, later Pope Sixtus V, in 1570. The cardinal, keen to avoid suspicion regarding his immense fortune, initially purchased the land through a proxy, Bartolomeo Bonamici. Later, the property passed to Peretti's sister, Camilla Peretti, who, in turn, gifted it to her daughter-in-law.
Domenico Fontana was commissioned to construct a palace on the grounds, and despite initial challenges with Pope Gregory XIII, the project was completed in 1581. The villa featured two main buildings: the "Palazzo di Sisto V alle Terme" and the "Casino Felice," both adorned with artworks by renowned artists.
The property's decline began after Camilla's death in 1605, and it was eventually sold to the Negroni family in 1696. Over time, the villa experienced further transformations, including being purchased by the Massimo family in 1789.
In 1860, during the construction of the Rome railway station, the villa started to be dismantled. The remnants were eventually demolished in 1887, making way for new developments. The area, now known as Castro Pretorio, was established in 1921. The memory of Villa Montalto Peretti Massimo lives on in the "Largo di Villa Peretti" square between Viale De Nicola and Via del Viminale, in front of Palazzo Massimo.