Villa Farnesina

Villa Farnesina (77)

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The well-off banker Agostino Chigi commissioned the construction of this villa in 1508 to his compatriot Baldasarre Peruzzi. The building, considered a Renaissance jewel, later passed into the hands of the Bourbons of Naples until, in 1590, the Farnese acquired it, to who it owes its name.

Inside the Villa Farnesina you will come across the Sala Galatea, famous for housing the famous Triumph of Galatea fresco, by Raphael. In this marvellous painting you will see the beautiful nymph of the same name dominating the waves and surrounded by cupids. Meanwhile, two dolphins draw her shell-carriage and a Triton appears to be harassing her.

If you look up at the ceiling you will see astrological scenes. This painting shows the position of the planets at the time of the birth of Chigi.

Another interesting room in the villa is the one called Cupid and Psyche Room, created by Raphael for what would seem to be a summerhouse. Here you can see two splendid frescos and, if you look carefully at the one of The Three Graces, to the right of the door, you will see a woman with her back to us who seems to be Chigi’s lover.

In the Sala delle Prospettive, you will see that the frescos by Peruzzi are painted in such a way to appear that you are seeing 16th-century Rome through marble columns.

Finally, you should visit the small master bedroom, where there is a fresco, The Wedding of Alexander and Roxanne, a masterpiece by Giovan Antonio Bazzi. For your information, Bazzi was commonly known as “the sodomite” because he was homosexual.

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INFORMATION

Introduction (2)

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Colosseum - Description (10)

Rome, a brief history (1)

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Colosseum - History (9)

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Villa Farnesina (77)

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INTERESTING

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Terme de Diocleziano (23)

Catacombs of San Callisto (96)

Fontana delle Tartarughe (61)

Isola Tiberina (82)

Palazzo Farnese (63)

Pincio (39)

San Crisogono (84)

San Luigi dei Francesi (57)

San Sebastiano Fuori le Mura (97)

Santa Maria della Concezione (35)

Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (47)

Sant'Agostino (58)

Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza (59)

Testaccio (87)

Cimitero Acattolico (93)

Gianicolo (80)

Palazzo Altemps (55)

Pasquino (56)

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San Francesco a Ripa (85)

San Paolo Fuori le Mura (98)

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Sant'andrea al Quirinale (28)

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Via Veneto (32)

Complesso di San Michele a Ripa (83)

Il Gesù (49)

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Sant'Andrea della Valle (66)

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