What Is a Villa Home?

Villa homes can refer to a variety of different building styles.

Villa homes are traditionally homes that are typically luxurious and extravagant in nature. However, the term can often be misused and misunderstood in modern society.

History

The term "villa" was first used by the Romans to indicate a self-sufficient country estate that contained luxurious housing, farmlands and vineyards, similar to a wealthy village. The term was used in this manner until the late 1800s, when it was also used to indicate landscaped plots with suburban homes on them.

Misconceptions

While the "villa" part of villa homes is still occasionally used to indicate luxury countryside and vacation homes, the term has been corrupted from its original usage to encompass a wide variety of residential homes and vacation rental homes. A villa home can be anything from a simple suburban home to a mansion with expansive grounds.

Examples

Some of the most famous examples of the original Roman and Renaissance villa homes can still be seen today in the city of Rome. These beautiful locales include the gardenlike Villa Sciarra, the Villa Borghese, the Villa Celimontana and the Villa Doria Pamphili.

References

• About Roma: Gardens and Villas in Rome
• Villas of Distinction: What is a Villa
• The Victorian Villa Architectural Style