Villa Farnesina

Welcome to the Villa Farnesina, one of the most exquisite and well-preserved examples of High Renaissance suburban architecture in the world. Located in the Trastevere district, on the banks of the Tiber River, this villa was…

We begin in the Loggia of Galatea, a room that contains one of the most celebrated works of the Renaissance: Raphael’s 'Triumph of Galatea.' Painted around 1512, this fresco depicts the sea-nymph Galatea riding a chariot made of…

Next, we enter the spectacular Loggia of Cupid and Psyche, which served as the original main entrance to the villa. The entire ceiling is a riot of color and greenery, designed by Raphael and executed largely by his school,…

Ascending to the upper floor, we enter the 'Sala delle Prospettive' or the Room of the Perspectives. This room is a masterpiece of 'trompe l'oeil'—the art of visual illusion. …

Adjacent to the perspective hall is Agostino Chigi’s bedroom, known for its frescoes depicting the 'Wedding of Alexander the Great and Roxanne.' Painted by the Sienese artist Il Sodoma, these scenes were chosen to mirror Chigi’s…

No visit to the Villa Farnesina is complete without a walk through its 'Secret Garden.' In the sixteenth century, these gardens were so famous for their beauty that they were the subject of several contemporary poems. Today, they…

Our tour concludes with a look at the modern legacy of the villa. Today, the Villa Farnesina is the seat of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, one of the oldest and most prestigious scientific institutions in Europe. …

As we prepare to leave the quiet world of Agostino Chigi and step back into the vibrant, modern energy of Trastevere, our journey through the Villa Farnesina comes to a close. We have seen how one man’s immense wealth was…