Villa Imperiale is one of the oldest and most prestigious villas with parks in the Genoese Renaissance style. Located in the popular San Fruttuoso neighborhood, on the east side of the historic center, it is owned by the municipality and is used, along with the surrounding park, as a public facility and garden. It houses a social center for the elderly, is home to the "Lercari" Municipal Library and, in the past, the "Edmondo De Amicis" International Library for Children (moved to the Cotton Warehouses in the Old Port); it also houses a kindergarten named after Gianni Rodari. In the summer, theatrical performances are held there as part of the "Laughing in August, but also before" Festival organized by the Teatro Garage of Genoa.