 According to a memorial stone within the building, on which is inscribed a "brief" by Pope Gregory XIII, Villa Grazioli was completed in 1580 by Cardinal Carafa to designs by architect Domenico Fontana.After Cardinal Carafa's death in 1582, the Villa became owned by Cardinal Ottavio Acquaviva of Aragon and his brother.After Cardinal Acquaviva's death in 1612, the Villa and its furnishings were purchased by Scipione Borghese, who sold it in 1613 to Cardinal Taverna.