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WALKING TOURS OF ROME

The Villa Medici

13/6/2019

 
Map
Villa Medici, Rome
Villa Medici

The Villa Medici was built between 1564 and 1574 by two Florentine architects, Giovanni Lippi (better known as Nanni di Baccio Bigio) and his son Annibale, for the nephews of Cardinal Ricci di Montepulciano.  

In 1576 Cardinal Ferdinando de' Medici (1549-1609) purchased the villa and asked another Florentine architect, Bartolomeo Ammannati, to enlarge it. It soon came to be regarded as one of the grandest residences in Rome, noted, in particular, for its collection of classical sculpture. 

In 1587 Ferdinando had to renounce his cardinal's hat and return to Florence to succeed his elder brother Francesco as Grand Duke of Tuscany. The villa remained in the Medici family until 1801 when it was bought by Napoleon. Two years later  it became the seat of the French Academy.  


The rather plain exterior of the villa contrasts sharply with its richly decorated garden facade. 

Garden of the Villa Medici, Rome
Garden of the Villa Medici

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    Walking Tours For Discerning Travellers

    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
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    of Rome.

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  • Home
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  • St Peter's Basilica
    • Altars >
      • Altar of St Joseph
      • Altar of St Gregory the Great
      • Altar of the Madonna of Succour
      • Altar of St Sebastian
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      • Altar of the Presentation of the Virgin
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      • Door of Death
      • Door of Good and Evil
      • Central Door
      • Door of the Sacraments
      • Holy Door
    • Pieta
    • Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
    • Cathedra Petri
    • Crossing >
      • Baldacchino
      • Confessio
      • Dome
      • St Longinus
      • St Helena
      • St Veronica
      • St Andrew
    • St Peter
    • Chapel of the Choir
    • Chapel of the Baptistery
    • Nave
  • Sistine Chapel
    • North Wall
    • South Wall
    • East Wall
    • Ceiling: Part One >
      • Ceiling: Part Two
      • Ceiling: Part Three
    • The Last Judgement
  • Fountains
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Bees
    • Fountain of Moses
    • Fountain of the Four Rivers
    • Fountain of the Acqua Paola
    • Fountain of the Turtles
    • Fountain of the Naiads
    • Fountain of the Cannonball
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountain of Goddess Roma
    • Rioni Fountains
    • Street Fountains
    • Venice Marries the Sea
    • St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Gallery
    • Piazzas >
      • Piazza del Campidglio
      • Piazza del Quirinale
      • Piazza del Popolo
      • Piazza di Spagna
      • Piazza Navona
      • Piazza S. M. in Trastevere
      • Piazza San Pietro
    • Mosaics
    • Fountains
    • Churches
    • Ancient Rome
    • Palaces
    • Domes
    • Papal Coats of Arms
    • Street Shrines
    • Old Photographs
    • Borromini & the Baroque