I do not know about you but I love looking at real estate, especially if I am in a foreign country or city away from home. It is no secret that I dream of owning a small cottage in Scotland, and my husband and I have seriously contemplated a pied a terre in Paris. As of now we are a one home family, but a girl can dream can’t she?
I came across this house for sale yesterday in The Telegraph, it is an 11,000 square foot house/apartment grafted on top of an ancient Colosseum. Palazzo Orsini’s selling price is not for the faint of heart, it is the most expensive house for sale in Rome, and one of the most expensive in Europe, currently on the market for 26 million euro, roughly $39 million dollars.
The house/apartment is built on top of the Theater Marcelli shown below.
According to the agents who are selling this magnificent home located in the heart of Rome, this is a once and a lifetime opportunity. “Houses like this do not come on the market very often”…I would say that is an understatement wouldn’t you? How often does one have the opportunity to live in a mini-Colosseum that could seat 20,000 and was begun by Julius Caesar in the 1st Century BC?
Palazzo Orsini is being sold by the family of Dame Iris Origo, author of War in Val d’Orcia: An Italian War Diary, 1943-1944, which chronicles her World War II experiences. During the war Dame Iris and her husband sheltered escaped prisoners of war and allied airmen. I was not familiar with this account of the war but the house and the information I have located on Iris now has me intrigued.
If you click on the link above you can read a fascinating account of Iris and her life.
I love this beautiful garden! Would you have imagined a garden like this is the heart of busy, bustling Rome?
What do you think? I think it is amazing! I hope that you ever buys it enjoys the history, the gardens and Rome!
Any plans in your life for a new home? Or a holiday home? Tell us about your plans or perhaps where your dream home would be located!
These are a few of the books written by Iris. I have not read any of them but I have them on order. There are also several books written about her and her life for sale.
Have a great day! It is 52 here (Milwaukee), very unseasonable weather, but we are “bracing” for 5-9 inches of snow. I personally cannot wait, I love to shovel snow, especially at night under the twinkling stars.

Love this post about the palazzo for sale in Rome! Can you imagine living there? Amazing. And I love the story about the owner sheltering escaped prisoners of war. This palazzo has great history attached to it. If I had a second home, I think I would want it to be in Tuscany or the south of France!
I have my dream home and staying put but I would move if the husband bought that house for me…;) Can you imagine living among all that history? That would be pure heaven to me!
WELL! WHAT A PLACE MY DEAREST!!! I am barely getting here after a long day at work and juggling many other things. BUT a visit to your space and seeing your DREAM is enchanting. I am calling it a night now…..zzzzzzzzzzz
Anita
Funnily enough, I do have about $39 million rattling around in my pocket. I've been wondering what to spend it on and now I know…. 😉
WOW!! It's gorgeous!
Sarahx