The Villa is a significant example of Neapolitan neoclassical architecture, blending neo-Renaissance, Neo-Palladian, and Neo-Pompeian elements. Designed in 1826 by Pietro Valente for Ferdinando Acton, it combines architectural elegance with an English-style landscaped park.
Purchased by the Rothschild family in 1841, the Villa underwent decorative transformations, including the Red Salon and the Ballroom. After Italian unification, it was acquired by Prince Diego Aragona Pignatelli Cortes, who introduced a refined eclectic style. In 1955, Princess Rosina Pignatelli donated the Villa to the State, founding the Pignatelli Museum, a unique house-museum in Naples.
The interiors are centered around three main salons, connecting the grand Library, the Dining Room, and elegant rooms adorned with exquisite furnishings. The collection includes fine furniture, silverware, bronzes, and an extensive array of European and Oriental ceramics, featuring pieces from the Royal Factory of Capodimonte.
Following a restoration, several private rooms of the family were reopened to the public in 2015, including the prince’s marble-clad bathroom, the princess’s study, and her boudoir, enriched with historic furnishings and artworks.