The cultural association of Villa Celimontana was born with the purpose of improving the organization and management of the Roman Jazz Festival “Jazz & Image at Villa Celimontana”, from which the association takes its name.

The Festival originated in 1994 but our work actually began several years before: with another name and more modest targets!

During the 1980’s Giampiero Rubei gave life to what is today the most famous Italian Jazz Club: the Alexanderplatz. The club opened with the ambitious purpose of proposing every night 100% jazz nights.

The choice was a courageous one, because in Italy, and especially in Rome, there was a very limited jazz scene; at the same time the club began as a sort of music meeting place where you could find books, curiosities and international texts on the unknown jazz world.