The Villa Wolkonsky, Rome, is the incongruously named official residence of the British ambassador to Italy. Nestled within the city's Aurelian Wall, the site's history dates back to antiquity, its gardens dominated by the remains of a first-century imperial Roman aqueduct. In the 19th century a remarkable Russian princess, Zenaide Wolkonsky, turned it into a country home and salon d;art with such illustrious visitors as Gogol, Turgenev and Walter Scott. Following generations excavated Roman tombs, collected antiquities and built a new grand mansion, before selling the Villa to the German government in 1922. It remained the German embassy, being much enlarged, until the Liberation of Rome in 1944. After the war the UK bought it, first as embassy offices and residence and, since 1971, as the residence for the ambassador and other staff. In this handsomely illustrated volume, Sir John Shepherd, former ambassador, has undertaken new research to debunk long-held myths and present, for the first time, a comprehensive history of this hidden Roman treasure. AUTHOR: John Shepherd was born in Edinburgh in the Second World War. He lived much of his childhood in Rome, though attending schools in England. His MA at Cambridge in Languages (French and German) and Economics was followed by post-graduate study of Development Economics at Stanford University in California. He also speaks Italian, and has learned Arabic and Dutch. His career in the Diplomatic Service included two spells in Rome, including as Ambassador (2000-2003); he served as Ambassador in Bahrain (1988-1991), Minister in Bonn (1991-1996) and was then on the Board of the Foreign Office until 2000. In "retirement" he became Founding Secretary-General of Global Leadership Foundation (2004-2006). He began researching this book in 2012. SELLING POINTS: . The story of The Villa Wolkonsky told by one of its recent prestigious residents . Reveals a little-known treasure of The Eternal City . First ever full treatment of the subject, correcting many previous untruths . Full of fascinating and exciting historical detail, with many familiar names and events . Extensively illustrated with photographs and maps 50 colour and 116 b/w illustrations