Villa Abamelek, serving as the official residence of the Russian ambassador to Italy, is named after its last owner, Russian prince Semyon Semyonovich Abamelek-Lazarev. This rare urban estate, preserved in European capitals, is particularly notable for its significant area of 33.8 hectares. The villa is located in the center of Rome, behind the Janiculum Hill, near the famous 16th-century Doria Pamphili villa.

Beneath Villa Abamelek runs a 700-meter railway line, connecting the Vatican to the Italian railway network since 1932, as the pontiff is the closest neighbor of the villa's owners. The hill on which the villa stands has its own history: in ancient Rome, there was a cemetery for gladiators who perished in the arena of Nero's circus. During excavations at the villa, gravestones with Latin inscriptions were discovered: "Corpus custodes Nerone."

In the Middle Ages, this picturesque corner beyond the Tiber was popular among Roman nobility, who built their country residences here. Vineyards and gardens thrived, and the land belonged to several owners. The prince acquired plots and created a luxurious architectural and park ensemble. At Villa Abamelek-Lazarev, he housed his rich collection: paintings, tapestries, ancient mosaics, marble, and wood carvings. The redesigned park was planted with beautiful trees and shrubs, adorned with ancient sculptures, marble baths from Roman baths, fountains, and amphorae. Since 1947, Villa Abamelek has been the official residence of the Russian ambassador to Italy. This occurred as follows: in 1944, the villa was occupied by military authorities for a club for Soviet servicemen and the residence of the Soviet representation in the Allied Control Commission against the anti-Hitler coalition. Since the widow of the owner, M.P. Abamelek-Lazarev, did not reside here and did not use the villa, the Italian authorities confiscated it by royal decree on May 26, 1946, "for public benefit." However, on February 27 of the following year, a decree from the temporary head of the Italian Republic transferred the villa to the Soviet Union, and on July 15, 1947, documents confirming ownership were issued to the embassy.